EROSION-SHIELDED TURBINE BLADES AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME

• Main Authors: Poli, Anthony, Sassatelli, John Matthew, Jiao, Yang, Karnati, Sreekar, Sun, Changjie
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 25.04.2024
• Subjects: BLASTING; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; HEATING; LIGHTING; MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAMTURBINES; OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER; STEAM ENGINES; WEAPONS; WIND MOTORS; WIND, SPRING WEIGHT AND MISCELLANEOUS MOTORS

A method of forming an erosion shield for a turbine blade includes depositing a layer of filler material defining an upper surface. The method also includes depositing a layer of erosion-resistant material across the upper surface of the layer of filler material. An interface is defined between the layer of filler material and the layer of erosion-resistant material and has a shape of the upper surface. The method also includes machining the layer of filler material to produce the erosion shield. The erosion shield has the layer of erosion-resistant material, the machined layer of filler material, and the interface defined therebetween. An inner surface of the erosion shield is defined by the machined layer of filler material that is sized and shaped for attaching to a leading edge of the turbine blade. Each of the interface and the inner surface extend a length of the erosion shield.