A turbine blade or vane inspection apparatus comprising a controller, mounting for holding a turbine blade or vane, a source of illumination, and a camera. At least two of the source of illumination, the camera, and the mounting are moveable components. The controller is configured to control the moveable components to (a) position the turbine blade or vane mounted thereon relative to the illumination source so as to provide a contrast of illumination between a feature of the turbine blade or vane and an adjacent surface of the turbine blade or vane and (b), position the camera so that the optical axis of the camera is directed towards the feature. The controller is further configured to determine a dimension and/or shape of the feature based on an image obtained by the camera.

A method for detecting wear before failure of a free-wheel, the free-wheel comprising a driving part integrated into an upstream mechanical power transmission system and a driven part integrated into a downstream mechanical power transmission system. The method comprises determining an oscillation measurement of a monitoring parameter within the upstream or downstream mechanical power transmission system, determining a value of at least one dynamic parameter characteristic of the oscillation measurement or of a transform of the oscillation measurement in a frequency reference frame, and generating an alarm when the value of the dynamic parameter reaches at least one wear threshold.

A method for generating material test samples for conducting material tests of a legacy steam turbine rotor having an inter-blade region rotor surface, and an inlet region rotor surface adjoining the inter-blade region rotor surface. The method includes forming an annular ring of rotor material in the sample area and forming a material test sample from a portion of the annular ring. Also described is a legacy steam turbine rotor including an inter-blade region rotor surface, and an inlet region rotor surface adjoining the inter-blade region rotor surface. The steam turbine rotor having a groove formed therein, and wherein the groove is machined to enable removal of material from the steam turbine rotor to form samples configured to enable at least one of conducting material property tests and operating the improved legacy steam turbine rotor at an expanded thermal stress compared to the legacy steam turbine rotor.

Systems, program products, and methods for detecting thermal stability within gas turbine systems are disclosed. The systems may include a computing device(s) in communication with a gas turbine system, and a plurality of sensors positioned within or adjacent the gas turbine system. The sensor(s) may measure operational characteristics of the gas turbine system. The computing device(s) may be configured to detect thermal stability within the gas turbine system by performing processes including calculating a lag output for each of the plurality of measured operational characteristics. The calculated lag output may be based on a difference between a calculated lag for the measured operational characteristics and the measured operational characteristic itself. The calculated lag output may be also be based on a time constant for the measured operational characteristics. The computing device(s) may also determine when each of the calculated lag outputs are below a predetermined threshold.

A method of identifying a fuel contained in a fuel tank of an aircraft and arranged to power a gas turbine engine of the aircraft is performed by processing circuitry of the aircraft and includes: obtaining at least one fuel characteristic of any fuel already present in the fuel tank prior to refuelling; determining at least one fuel characteristic of a fuel added to the fuel tank on refuelling; and calculating at least one fuel characteristic of the resultant fuel in the fuel tank after refuelling. The method may further controlling the propulsion system of the aircraft based on the calculated at least one fuel characteristic of the resultant fuel in the fuel tank after refuelling.

A method of determining one or more fuel characteristics of an aviation fuel for powering a gas turbine engine of an aircraft includes: measuring one or more trace substance parameters of the fuel, the one or more trace substance parameters each associated with a respective trace substance in the fuel; and determining one or more fuel characteristics of the fuel based on the one or more trace substance parameters. Further, a fuel characteristic determination system, a method of operating an aircraft, and an aircraft.

A detection device for a turbine blade of an aircraft engine includes a machine table, a fixing frame, a dip coating mechanism, and a detection mechanism. A sliding cavity is formed in an upper end of the machine table, a support plate is slidably arranged in the sliding cavity, a side end of the support plate is rotatably connected to a chuck, the fixing frame is in an inverted “U” shape and is fixed on the upper end of the machine table, and a mounting barrel is rotatably arranged on the fixing frame. The dip coating mechanism and the detection mechanism are arranged on the machine table, such that wall-hanging sediments in an air film hole and a cooling channel will be exposed to a first photosensitive camera and a second photosensitive camera through fluorescent liquid, thus completing wall hanging and blockage detection of the blade synchronously.

A tool for removing a coating from an interior surface of a component. The tool includes a rotary device; a grinding attachment attached to the rotary device; a tool holder configured to: set an axial position of the grinding attachment coupled to the rotary device over the coating on the interior surface of the component; and set a radial position of the grinding attachment coupled to the rotary device, the radial position defining a cutting depth of the grinding attachment into the coating on the interior surface of the component; and a wheel assembly coupled to the tool holder for guiding the tool holder about an interior perimeter of the component.

A method of monitoring turbine blade creep in a gas turbine engine is provided. The method includes: receiving stereo images of a turbine blade of a row of turbine blades, the images having been obtained using a stereo borescope located in the engine adjacent the row of turbine blades; identifying same features of the blade in each of the stereo images; mapping each of the identified features by triangulation onto a 3D space to produce a 3D depth map of at least part of the blade; providing a 3D reference model of the blade; and comparing the 3D reference model with the 3D depth map to measure one or more deviations in shape of the blade to determine an amount of creep-induced distortion of the blade.

The method of assembling the rotor assembly can include obtaining geometrical reference values about the individual rotor components, based on the geometrical reference values, determining a combination of relative circumferential positions of the individual rotor components associated to a bow shape configuration of the centers of mass along the axially-extending sequence; and assembling the rotor components to one another in said determined combination of relative circumferential positions, into the rotor assembly.