Abstract:
Bladed Gas Turbine Engine (GTE) rotors including deposited transition rings are provided, as are embodiments of methods for manufacturing bladed GTE rotors. In one embodiment, the method includes providing an outer blade ring having an inner circumferential surface defining a central opening, and depositing a deposited transition ring on the inner circumferential surface of the outer blade ring. The outer blade ring can be a full bladed ring or an annular grouping of individually-fabricated bladed pieces. After deposition of the transition ring, a hub disk is inserted into the central opening such that the transition ring extends around an outer circumferential surface of the hub disk. The transition ring is then bonded to the outer circumferential surface of the hub disk utilizing, for example, a hot isostatic pressing technique to join the transition ring and the outer blade ring thereto.
Abstract:
A gas turbine engine includes a compressor section and a combustion section with a scroll, a scroll baffle, a combustor, and a combustor case. The scroll defines an interior scroll flow path. The scroll baffle surrounds the scroll to define a scroll cooling passage. The combustor case surrounds the combustor and the scroll baffle to define a collector space. Moreover, the engine includes a turbine section with a turbine rotor and a turbine rotor blade shroud that includes a shroud cooling passage. The compressor flow path is fluidly connected to the scroll for cooling the scroll. Also, the scroll cooling passage is fluidly connected to the shroud cooling passage for cooling the turbine rotor blade shroud. Furthermore, the shroud cooling passage is fluidly connected to the collector space. Flow from the collector space flows into the combustor, along the interior scroll flow path, toward the turbine rotor.
Abstract:
Dual alloy turbine rotors and methods for manufacturing the same are provided. The dual alloy turbine rotor comprises an assembled blade ring and a hub bonded to the assembled blade ring. The assembled blade ring comprises a first alloy selected from the group consisting of a single crystal alloy, a directionally solidified alloy, or an equi-axed alloy. The hub comprises a second alloy. The method comprises positioning a hub within a blade ring to define an interface between the hub and the blade ring. The interface is a non-contacting interface or a contacting interface. The interface is enclosed by a pair of diaphragms. The interface is vacuum sealed. The blade ring is bonded to the hub after the vacuum sealing step.
Abstract:
Bladed Gas Turbine Engine (GTE) rotors including deposited transition rings are provided, as are embodiments of methods for manufacturing bladed GTE rotors. In one embodiment, the method includes providing an outer blade ring having an inner circumferential surface defining a central opening, and depositing a deposited transition ring on the inner circumferential surface of the outer blade ring. The outer blade ring can be a full bladed ring or an annular grouping of individually-fabricated bladed pieces. After deposition of the transition ring, a hub disk is inserted into the central opening such that the transition ring extends around an outer circumferential surface of the hub disk. The transition ring is then bonded to the outer circumferential surface of the hub disk utilizing, for example, a hot isostatic pressing technique to join the transition ring and the outer blade ring thereto.
Abstract:
Embodiments of an axially-split radial turbine, as are embodiments of a method for manufacturing an axially-split radial turbine. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of joining a forward bladed ring to a forward disk to produce a forward turbine rotor, fabricating an aft turbine rotor, and disposing the forward turbine rotor and the aft turbine rotor in an axially-abutting, rotationally-fixed relationship to produce the axially-split radial turbine.
Abstract:
Dual alloy bladed rotors are provided, as are methods for manufacturing dual alloy bladed rotors. In one embodiment, the method includes arranging bladed pieces in a ring formation such that contiguous bladed pieces contact along shank-to-shank bonding interfaces. The ring formation is positioned around a hub disk, which is contacted by the bladed pieces along a shank-to-hub bonding interface. A metallic sealing material is deposited between contiguous bladed pieces utilizing, for example, a laser welding process to produce an annular seal around the ring formation. A hermetic cavity is then formed, which is circumferentially bounded by the annular seal and which encloses the shank-to-shank and shank-to-hub bonding interface. Afterwards, a Hot Isostatic Pressing process is performed during which the ring formation and the hub disk are exposed to elevated pressures external to the hermetic cavity sufficient to diffusion bond the shank-to-shank and shank-to-hub bonding interface.
Abstract:
Auxiliary power units and methods and systems for activation and deactivation of a load compressor therein are provided. Auxiliary power unit includes the load compressor having an impeller, APU engine, coupling member, pre-spinning means, and APU controller. APU engine is adapted to be mechanically engaged to load compressor to drive load compressor to provide pneumatic power and to be disengaged when the need for pneumatic power ceases. Coupling member couples load compressor and APU engine and is configured to be controllably moved between an engaged position in which the APU engine is mechanically engaged with the load compressor, and a disengaged position, in which the APU engine is disengaged from the load compressor. APU controller is operably coupled to load compressor, APU engine, coupling member, and pre-spinning means and adapted to receive and be responsive to rotational speed signals for controlling movement of coupling member between engaged and disengaged positions.
Abstract:
Embodiments of an axially-split radial turbine, as are embodiments of a method for manufacturing an axially-split radial turbine. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of joining a forward bladed ring to a forward disk to produce a forward turbine rotor, fabricating an aft turbine rotor, and disposing the forward turbine rotor and the aft turbine rotor in an axially-abutting, rotationally-fixed relationship to produce the axially-split radial turbine.
Abstract:
Turbine wheels, turbine engines, and methods of fabricating the turbine wheels are provided. An exemplary method includes fabricating a turbine wheel that includes a rotor disk and a plurality of turbine blades operatively connected to the rotor disk through a blade mount. The method includes locating a cooling passage within a blade mount preliminary configuration and a cooling inlet on a surface of the blade mount preliminary configuration. A rotor disk bonding surface geometry and a blade mount bonding surface geometry are designed based upon a stress analysis of the turbine wheel and locations of the cooling passage and cooling inlet. A rotor disk production configuration and a blade mount production configuration are generated based upon the preliminary configurations. A blade mount and a rotor disk are formed based upon the production configurations. A blade ring including a plurality of blade mounts is formed and bonded to the rotor disk.
Abstract:
Turbine wheels, turbine engines, and methods of fabricating the turbine wheels are provided. An exemplary method includes fabricating a turbine wheel that includes a rotor disk and a plurality of turbine blades operatively connected to the rotor disk through a blade mount. The method includes locating a cooling passage within a blade mount preliminary configuration and a cooling inlet on a surface of the blade mount preliminary configuration. A rotor disk bonding surface geometry and a blade mount bonding surface geometry are designed based upon a stress analysis of the turbine wheel and locations of the cooling passage and cooling inlet. A rotor disk production configuration and a blade mount production configuration are generated based upon the preliminary configurations. A blade mount and a rotor disk are formed based upon the production configurations. A blade ring including a plurality of blade mounts is formed and bonded to the rotor disk.