Steam turbine part including ceramic matrix composite (cmc)

Abstract

A steam turbine part includes a ceramic matrix composite (CMC). The part may be made wholly or partially of CMC. The CMC eliminates the possibility of oxidation and thus increases steam turbine availability and reliability

1 . A steam turbine part comprising:
 a ceramic matrix composite.   
   
   
       2 . The steam turbine part of  claim 1 , wherein the CMC is a layer over a metal core. 
   
   
       3 . The steam turbine part of  claim 2 , further comprising a thermal matching interface between the CMC and the metal core. 
   
   
       4 . The steam turbine part of  claim 1 , wherein the CMC includes an oxide based CMC. 
   
   
       5 . The steam turbine part of  claim 4 , wherein the oxide based CMC includes aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3 ). 
   
   
       6 . The steam turbine part of  claim 5 , wherein the CMC further includes silicon carbon (SiC). 
   
   
       7 . The steam turbine stationary part of  claim 1 , wherein the CMC includes an oxide based matrix and a ceramic based fiber. 
   
   
       8 . The steam turbine stationary part of  claim 7 , wherein the oxide based matrix includes aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3 ), titanium boride (TiB) and silicon carbon (SiC). 
   
   
       9 . The steam turbine part of  claim 7 , wherein the oxide based matrix includes aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3 ), titanium di-boride (TiB 2 ), platinum carbon (PtC) and silicon carbon (SiC). 
   
   
       10 . The steam turbine part of  claim 1 , wherein the CMC includes:
 a matrix selected from the group consisting of: zirconium carbide (ZrC), hafnium carbon (HfC), titanium carbon (TiC), tantalum carbon (TaC), niobium carbon (NbC), zirconium silicon carbon (Zr—Si—C), hafnium silicon carbon (Hf—Si—C) and titanium silicon carbon (Ti—Si—C); and   a fiber selected from the group consisting of: silicon carbon (SiC), carbon (C) and alpha-Al 2 O 3  with yttrium oxide (Y 2 O 3 ) and zirconium oxide (ZrO 2 ).   
   
   
       11 . The steam turbine part of  claim 1 , wherein an exterior surface of the part includes a textured surface. 
   
   
       12 . The steam turbine part of  claim 1 , wherein the part includes a stationary part. 
   
   
       13 . The steam turbine part of  claim 12 , wherein the stationary part is selected from a group consisting of: a valve stem, a nozzle, and a bushing. 
   
   
       14 . A steam turbine comprising:
 a part including a ceramic matrix composite.   
   
   
       15 . The steam turbine of  claim 14 , wherein the CMC is a layer over a metal core. 
   
   
       16 . The steam turbine of  claim 15 , further comprising a thermal matching interface between the CMC and the metal core. 
   
   
       17 . The steam turbine of  claim 14 , wherein the CMC includes an oxide based CMC. 
   
   
       18 . The steam turbine of  claim 17 , wherein the oxide based CMC includes aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3 ). 
   
   
       19 . The steam turbine of  claim 18 , wherein the CMC further includes silicon carbon (SiC). 
   
   
       20 . The steam turbine of  claim 14 , wherein the CMC includes:
 a matrix selected from the group consisting of: zirconium carbide (ZrC), hafnium carbon (HfC), titanium carbon (TiC), tantalum carbon (TaC), niobium carbon (NbC), zirconium silicon carbon (Zr—Si—C), hafnium silicon carbon (Hf—Si—C) and titanium silicon carbon (Ti—Si—C); and   a fiber selected from the group consisting of: silicon carbon (SiC), carbon (C) and alpha-Al 2 O 3  with yttrium oxide (Y 2 O 3 ) and zirconium oxide (ZrO 2 ).