Abstract: A damper element for a vibration dampening system may be used in a body opening in a rotating blade in a turbine. The damper element includes a base member, and a spring-suspended bearing member having a disc spring fixedly coupled to the base member at a center of the disc spring, and a bearing member coupled to a first side of the disc spring at an outer portion thereof. The bearing member extends radially distal from the first side of the disc spring. With the disc spring in an elastically extended state under influence of a centrifugal force caused by rotation of the rotating blade at higher than a predefined rotational speed, the bearing member frictionally engages a first bearing surface to dampen vibration. The friction-based vibration dampening interface experiences a reduced impact of the centrifugal forces of the rotating blade by providing a counteracting force reduction using the spring.

Abstract: A stator vane assembly includes a platform that defines an opening. The stator vane assembly further includes an airfoil segment that includes an airfoil and a boss. The airfoil includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, a suction side wall, and a pressure side wall. The airfoil extends radially between a base and a tip. The boss extends from at least one of the base or the tip of the airfoil. The boss is disposed in the opening of the platform. The stator vane assembly further includes a mechanical retention device that couples the platform to the boss of the airfoil segment.

Abstract: A vibration damping system includes a vibration damping element for a turbine nozzle or blade. A body opening extends through the turbine nozzle or blade between the tip end and the base end thereof, e.g., through the airfoil among potentially other parts of the nozzle or blade. A vibration damping element includes a plurality of stacked plate members within the body opening. Each plate member is in surface contact with at least one adjacent plate member to cause friction that dampens vibration of the nozzle or blade. The body opening has an inner dimension, and each plate member has an outer dimension sized to frictionally engage the inner dimension of the body opening to damp vibration. Plate members may each include a central opening therein, and a fixed elongated body or cable may extend through the central openings. The damping element may alternatively include a helical metal ribbon spring.

Abstract: A stator vane includes a platform that defines an opening. The stator vane further includes an airfoil that has a leading edge, a trailing edge, a suction side wall, and a pressure side wall. The airfoil extends radially between a base and a tip. At least one of the base or the tip includes a protrusion. The protrusion extends into the opening of the platform such that the platform surrounds the protrusion of the airfoil. The stator vane further includes a braze joint disposed between and fixedly coupling the platform and the protrusion of the airfoil. The stator vane further includes a cooling circuit defined in at least one of the protrusion or the platform to cool the braze joint.

Abstract: A damper element for a vibration dampening system may be used in a body opening in a rotating blade in a turbine. The damper element includes a base member having an axially fixed position within the body opening, and a spring-suspended bearing member having a spring fixedly coupled to the base member at a first end of the spring and a bearing member coupled to a second end of the spring. With the spring in an elastically extended state under influence of a centrifugal force caused by rotation of the rotating blade at higher than a predefined rotational speed, the bearing member frictionally engages a bearing surface to dampen vibration. The spring-suspended bearing member provides a friction-based vibration dampening interface that experiences a reduced impact of the centrifugal forces of the rotating blade by providing a counteracting force reduction using the spring.

Abstract: A vibration dampening system includes a vibration dampening element for a turbine nozzle or blade. A body opening extends through the turbine nozzle or blade, e.g., through the airfoil among potentially other parts of the nozzle or blade. A vibration dampening element includes a plurality of stacked damper pins within the body opening. The damper pins include an outer body having an inner opening, a first end surface and an opposing second end surface; and an inner body nested and movable within the inner opening of the outer body. The end surfaces frictionally engage to dampen vibration. The inner body has a first central opening including a first portion configured to engage an elongated body therein and an outer surface configured to frictionally engage a portion of the inner opening of the outer body to dampen vibration.

Abstract: A stator vane includes a platform that defines an opening. The stator vane further includes an airfoil that has a leading edge, a trailing edge, a suction side wall, and a pressure side wall. The airfoil extends radially between a base and a tip. At least one of the base or the tip includes a protrusion. The protrusion extends into the opening of the platform such that the platform surrounds the protrusion of the airfoil. The stator vane further includes a braze joint disposed between and fixedly coupling the platform and the protrusion of the airfoil. The stator vane further includes a cooling circuit defined in at least one of the protrusion or the platform to cool the braze joint.

Abstract: A vibration damping system includes a vibration damping element for a turbomachine nozzle or blade. A body opening extends through the turbomachine nozzle or blade between the tip end and the base end thereof. A vibration damping element includes a volute spring vibration damping element configured to be installed within the body opening in the turbomachine nozzle or blade. The volute spring vibration damping element includes a spiral coil of a metal sheet strip with a surface of the metal sheet strip contacting itself in a direction of an axis of the coil. The body opening has an inner dimension, and the volute spring vibration damping element has an outer dimension sized to frictionally engage the inner dimension of the body opening to dampen vibration. In certain embodiments, the body opening and the volute spring vibration damping element each have a conical perspective shape.

Abstract: A vibration dampening system includes a vibration dampening element for a turbine nozzle or blade. A body opening extends through the turbine nozzle or blade, e.g., through the airfoil among potentially other parts of the nozzle or blade. A vibration dampening element includes a plurality of stacked damper pins within the body opening. The damper pins include an outer body having an inner opening, a first end surface and an opposing second end surface; and an inner body nested and movable within the inner opening of the outer body. The end surfaces frictionally engage to dampen vibration. The inner body has a first central opening including a first portion configured to engage an elongated body therein and an outer surface configured to frictionally engage a portion of the inner opening of the outer body to dampen vibration.

Abstract: A vibration damping system includes a vibration damping element for a turbine nozzle or blade. A body opening extends through the turbine nozzle or blade between the tip end and the base end thereof, e.g., through the airfoil among potentially other parts of the nozzle or blade. A vibration damping element includes a plurality of stacked plate members within the body opening. Each plate member is in surface contact with at least one adjacent plate member to cause friction that dampens vibration of the nozzle or blade. The body opening has an inner dimension, and each plate member has an outer dimension sized to frictionally engage the inner dimension of the body opening to damp vibration. Plate members may each include a central opening therein, and a fixed elongated body or cable may extend through the central openings. The damping element may alternatively include a helical metal ribbon spring.

Abstract: A stator vane includes a platform that defines an opening. The stator vane further includes an airfoil that has a leading edge, a trailing edge, a suction side wall, and a pressure side wall. The airfoil extends radially between a base and a tip. At least one of the base or the tip includes a protrusion. The protrusion extends into the opening of the platform such that the platform surrounds the protrusion of the airfoil. The stator vane further includes a braze joint disposed between and fixedly coupling the platform and the protrusion of the airfoil. The stator vane further includes a cooling circuit defined in at least one of the protrusion or the platform to cool the braze joint.

Abstract: An additively manufactured (AM) object may include a body including an opening in an exterior surface thereof, the opening having a shape and a first area at the exterior surface of the body. A mask may be positioned over the opening. The mask has the shape of the opening and a second area that is larger than the first area so as to overhang the exterior surface of the body about the opening. A plurality of support ligaments couple to the mask and the exterior surface of the body at a location adjacent to the opening to support a portion of the mask. A coating can be applied to the object, and the mask removed. The final AM object includes a plurality of ligament elements extending from the exterior surface of the body and through the coating adjacent the opening, each ligament element at least partially surrounded by the coating.

Abstract: An additively manufactured (AM) object may include a body including an opening in an exterior surface thereof, the opening having a shape and a first area at the exterior surface of the body. A mask may be positioned over the opening. The mask has the shape of the opening and a second area that is larger than the first area so as to overhang the exterior surface of the body about the opening. A plurality of support ligaments couple to the mask and the exterior surface of the body at a location adjacent to the opening to support a portion of the mask. A coating can be applied to the object, and the mask removed. The final AM object includes a plurality of ligament elements extending from the exterior surface of the body and through the coating adjacent the opening, each ligament element at least partially surrounded by the coating.

Abstract: A vibration damping system for a turbine nozzle or blade includes a body opening extending through a body of the turbine nozzle or blade between a tip end and a base end thereof. Elongated vibration damping element is disposed in the body opening and includes an elongated body having a first, free end and a second end fixed relative to one of the base end and the tip end. At least one wire mesh member surrounds the elongated body. The wire mesh member(s) frictionally engage with an inner surface of the body opening to damp vibration. A related method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A vibration damping system for a turbine nozzle or blade includes a vibration damping element including a plurality of contacting members including a plurality of damper pins. Each damper pin includes a body. A wire mesh member surrounds the body of at least one of the plurality of damper pins. The wire mesh member has a first outer dimension sized for frictionally engaging within a body opening in the turbine nozzle or blade to damp vibration. Spacer members devoid of a wire mesh member may also be used. The damper pins can have different sizes to accommodate contiguous body openings of different sizes in the nozzle or blade. The body opening can be angled relative to a radial extent of the nozzle or blade.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a turbomachine that includes a hot gas path component having an inner surface and defining a hot gas path component cavity. An impingement insert is positioned within the hot gas path component cavity. The impingement insert includes an inner surface and an outer surface and defines an impingement insert cavity and a plurality of impingement apertures fluidly coupling the impingement insert cavity and the hot gas path component cavity. A plurality of pins extends from the outer surface of the impingement insert to the inner surface of the hot gas path component.

Abstract: A vibration damping element for a vibration damping system for a turbine nozzle or blade includes an elongated body and a wire mesh member that surrounds the elongated body. The wire mesh member has a first outer dimension in an inoperative state and a second, larger outer dimension in an operative state. In the operative state, the wire mesh member frictionally engages with an inner surface of a body opening in the turbine nozzle or blade to damp vibration. In the inoperative state, the wire mesh member slides freely in the body opening in the turbine nozzle or blade. A retention system includes a retention member on the elongated body that fixes the wire mesh member relative to a length of the elongated body in the operative state in the body opening of the turbine nozzle or blade.

Abstract: A turbine rotor blade root is additively manufactured and includes a shank having a radially extending chamber defined therein. A blade mount is at a radial inner end of the shank. The blade mount has a hollow interior defined therein with the hollow interior in fluid communication with the radially extending chamber. A lattice support structure is disposed within the hollow interior of the blade mount.

Abstract: A turbine nozzle assembly system includes a plurality of nozzle sets, where each nozzle set forms an annulus. The nozzles in each set include an inner endwall and an outer endwall that include joint openings to receive the respective endwall mount ends of an airfoil. The airfoils across the plurality of nozzle sets have an inner endwall mount end and an outer endwall mount end that are identical amongst the plurality of nozzle sets. A wing portion of the airfoil has a selected wing shape that is identical within the respective nozzle set but different amongst the plurality of nozzle sets. In this manner, the endwalls can be removed from an airfoil and replaced with an airfoil having a different wing shape that provides a different pairwise throat area. The system allows changing of a pairwise throat area for a nozzle set without replacing the entirety of each nozzle.

Abstract: An embodiment of an independent cooling circuit for selectively delivering cooling fluid to a component of a gas turbine system includes: at least one coolant feed channel fluidly coupled to a supply of cooling fluid; and an interconnected circuit of cooling channels, including: an interconnected circuit of cooling channels embedded within an exterior wall of the component; an impingement plate; and a plurality of feed tubes connecting the impingement plate to the exterior wall of the component and fluidly coupling a supply of cooling fluid to the interconnected circuit of cooling channels; wherein the cooling fluid flows through the plurality of feed tubes into the interconnected circuit of cooling channels only in response to a formation of a breach in the exterior wall of the component that exposes at least one of the cooling channels.