Siemens Energy, Inc.

Dresser-rand Company

Christopher Guerra

Byron L Mohr

Harry Francis Miller

Mark J Kuzdzal

Scott MacWilliams

Tristen Barnes

A bearing and/or seal assembly where pressurized gas (e.g., air) may be arranged to produce a contact-free bearing and/or seal is provided. The assembly includes a permeable body () including structural features () selectively engineered to convey a pressurized gas (Ps) from an inlet side () side of the permeable body to an outlet side () of the permeable body to form an annular film of the pressurized gas relative to the rotatable shaft. Disclosed embodiments may be produced by way of three-dimensional (3D) Printing/Additive Manufacturing (AM) technologies with practically no manufacturing variability; and may also cost-effectively and reliably benefit from the relatively complex geometries and the features and/or conduits that may be involved to, for example, form the desired distribution pattern or impart a desired directionality to the pressurized gas conveyed through the permeable body of the bearing and/or seal assembly.

Bearing and/or seal assembly including permeable body with features engineered to form a desired distribution pattern for a pressurized gas conveyed therethrough

An acoustic attenuator for a turbomachine and methodology for additively manufacturing the acoustic attenuator are provided. The acoustic attenuator includes an annular body () having an outer surface () and an inner surface (). The inner surface of the annular body may define a bore () extending along a longitudinal axis () of the acoustic attenuator between a first end and a second end of the acoustic attenuator. The annular body may be formed by a plurality of axially-successive cross-sectional layers (e.g.,) unitized between the first end and the second end of the acoustic attenuator. The plurality of axially-successive cross-sectional layers may be transversely disposed relative to the longitudinal axis of the acoustic attenuator. At least some axially-successive cross-sectional layers of the plurality of axially-successive cross-sectional layers (e.g.,) defining a pocket () disposed between the outer surface and the inner surface of the annular body. At least a segment of a periphery of the pocket comprises two sides () arranged to join at a common end point to form an apex () of the pocket.

Acoustic attenuator for a turbomachine and methodology for additively manufacturing said acoustic attenuator

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Olean, NY, United States of America

Christopher Guerra