Sulzer-mtu Casting Technology Gmbh

Mtu Motoren-und Turbinen-union Munchen Gmbh

Jurgen Wortmann

Fritz Staub

Bruno Walser

Robert Wege

Daniel Stahl

A hollow structural part having an internal hollow space, preferably a blade for a turbodrive, is made of a metal alloy with a columnar structure solidified in an oriented manner with longitudinally extending grain boundaries. A series of holes are laser drilled in the blade to connect the outer surface of the blade with the hollow space. The blade is formed with a single crystal column in the region where the series of holes are formed so that the holes are away from the grain boundaries. Such structural parts are preferably used as the blade of a rotor and the laser drilled holes serve for supply of cooling air to the leading edge or pressure region of the blade or for influencing the position of the boundary layer on the suction side of the blade, or the laser-drilled holes are shaped as outflow openings for air to intensify a cooling film for increasing the blade efficiency.

Hollow rotor blade of columnar structure having a single crystal column

A casting unit for the manufacturing of a plurality of cast parts by using directed solidification or monocrystal formation as well as the process for casting is provided. A plurality of individual molds are combined while forming close distances to form a mold shell in the manner of an array. In this manner, the simultaneous casting of a large number of cast parts is permitted while the space requirement is minimized.

Casting unit for the manufacturing of a plurality of cast parts

A process and apparatus for the production of a single-crystal article, such as a turbine blade, by casting a molten metal into a casting mold with a single crystal seed crystal at the bottom of the casting mold. The casting mold is heated and vacuum-purified after which the seed crystal is introduced into an opening at the bottom of the mold in a matter of a few seconds whereafter the molten metal is immediately cast onto the seed crystal in the casting mold. The seed crystal is carried by a holder which is lifted to bring the seed crystal into the open bottom of the casting mold in sealed relation in the mold.

Process and apparatus for production of single-crystal turbine blades

A process and apparatus for the repair of single-crystal drive blades, such as turbine blades, in which a sound portion of the blade is inserted into an open bottom of a casting mold in communication with a casting cavity in the mold adopted to the shape of the blade. The molten metal is then cast into the mold to unite with the sound portion and an epitaxial single-crystal solidification of the melt is produced on the sound portion to form the entire blade. A part of the sound portion has an outer surface layer thereof removed to expose a core region which is constituted of substantially pure single crystal material prior to casting. The sound part is secured in a holder which is coupled to the casting mold for only a matter of seconds before the molten metal is cast into the mold.

Process and apparatus for repair of drive blades such as turbine blades

A process for the repair of single-crystal drive blades, such as turbine blades, in which a sound portion of the blade is inserted into an open bottom of a casting mold in communication with a casting cavity in the mold adopted to the shape of the blade. The molten metal is then cast into the mold to unite with the sound portion and an epitaxial single-crystal solidification of the melt is produced on the sound portion to form the entire blade. A part of the sound portion has an outer surface layer thereof removed to expose a core region which is constituted of substantially pure single crystal material prior to casting. The sound part is secured in a holder which is coupled to the casting mold for only a matter of seconds before the molten metal is cast into the mold.

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Weichs, Germany

Jurgen Wortmann