Leak plugging in components with fluid flow passages

• US 8,960,215 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2012
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Cui, Yan, Kottilingam, Srikanth Chandrudu, Lin, Dechao, Tollison, Brian Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KEVIN L
• Application Number:
  US13/564,987
• Publication Number:
  US 20140034144A1
• Time in Patent Office: 936 Days
• Field of Search: 137/15.11, 137/315.01, 137/312, 138/98
• US Class Current: 137/15.11
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 1/0018 Brazing of turbine parts
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 6/007 using only additive methods, e.g. build-up welding
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 6/045 of turbine components, e.g. moving or stationary blades, rotors, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0402 Cleaning, repairing, or assembling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0452 Detecting or repairing leak
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/598 With repair, tapping, assembly, or disassembly means

Abstract

A method for repairing a component with a leak are disclosed. In an embodiment, a component having at least one fluid flow path with a leak therein is provided. The component may be made of a first material. A second material may be introduced into the fluid flow path, and propelled into the location of the leak in the flow path. Once there, the second material is melted and solidified, forming a plug that occludes the leak.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a component having a fluid flow path therein, wherein the component includes a first material;

introducing a second material into the fluid flow path;

propelling the second material into a leak in the fluid flow path, wherein the propelling further comprises vacuum pumping the second material into the fluid flow path;

melting the second material; and

solidifying the second material, wherein the solidified second material occludes the leak.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to the introducing, performing a hydrotest to identify a location of the leak in the fluid flow path.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the component is in final fabricated condition prior to performing the hydrotest.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the location of the leak is not directly accessible from an exterior of the component.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the component comprises a gas turbine nozzle.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second material comprises a braze filler material, and further comprises one of BNi-2, BNi-5, BNi-9, or DF4B.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second material comprises a powder, a foil, a paste, or a pre-sintered preform (PSP).

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the leak includes one of a pore or a fissure in the first material.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first material comprises one of a single crystal superalloy, an equiaxed superalloy, or a directionally solidified (DS) superalloy.

10. A component comprising:

a body comprising a first material, wherein the body includes a first fluid flow path therethrough and a second fluid flow path through the body that is separate from the first fluid flow path, wherein one of the first fluid flow path or the second fluid flow path conducts steam through the component, and the other of the first fluid flow path or the second fluid flow path conducts air through the component;

a leak in the first material disposed such that the first fluid flow path is not sealably enclosed by the first material; and

a second material occluding the leak such that there is no fluid egress from the first fluid flow path.

11. The component of claim 10, wherein the component further comprises a nozzle.

12. The component of claim 11, wherein the nozzle is steam-cooled.

13. The component of claim 10, wherein the leak fluidly connects the first fluid flow path and the second fluid flow path.

14. The component of claim 10, wherein the first material comprises one of a single crystal superalloy, an equiaxed superalloy, or a directionally solidified (DS) superalloy.

15. The component of claim 10, wherein the second material comprises one of BNi-2, BNi-5, BNi-9, or DF4B.

16. The component of claim 10, wherein the second material comprises a powder, a foil, a paste, or a pre-sintered preform (PSP) that is subjected to a braze cycle.

17. The component of claim 10, wherein the leak further comprises one of a pore or a fissure in the first material.

18. The component of claim 10, wherein the leak is not directly accessible from an exterior of the component.

19. A component comprising:

a body comprising a first material, wherein the body includes a first fluid flow path through the body and a second fluid flow path through the body that is separate from the first fluid flow path;

a leak in the first material disposed such that the first fluid flow path is not sealably enclosed by the first material, wherein the leak is not directly accessible from an exterior of the component; and

a second material occluding the leak such that there is no fluid egress from the first fluid flow path.

20. The component of claim 19, wherein the first material comprises one of a single crystal superalloy, an equiaxed superalloy, or a directionally solidified (DS) superalloy, and the second material comprises one of BNi-2, BNi-5, BNi-9, or DF4B.