3D-printed “superalloy” could make power plants more efficient...The material is both stronger and lighter than those used to make conventional power-plant turbines.

FreeThink ^ | June 18, 2023 | By Sam Jarman

[Zeppelin]

Not to mention, additive manufacturing can achieve geometries that machining cannot, so designs can be optimized without as many manufacturing limitations.

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

*This* I find equally if not more interesting.

“The researchers also found that the performance of the superalloy correlated with predictions generated from a computer model that was designed to predict how particular combinations of elements would conduct thermal energy. Those predictions suggest that future computer models might be able to help predict which combinations of elements are likely to result in new and useful superalloys.”

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

*This* I find equally if not more interesting.

“The researchers also found that the performance of the superalloy correlated with predictions generated from a computer model that was designed to predict how particular combinations of elements would conduct thermal energy. Those predictions suggest that future computer models might be able to help predict which combinations of elements are likely to result in new and useful superalloys.”

[woodbutcher1963]

I was thinking Golf Clubs.
To heck with titanium heads.

They will have to move the Black tees back another ten yards.

[null and void]

3-D Printer Ping!

Political power grows out of the nozzle of a 3-D Printer.

[marktwain]

Which would be more precise? That can also be a critical factor.

Some printers can be very precise. The more precise, generally, the more time it takes to print.

It depends on the printer.

[gnarledmaw]

Thats why they have to keep those printers small enough so that they can only print girls that little. If they made it any bigger then Skynet would send back print jobs to make T800s.

[know.your.why]

Can 3D printing hold +/-.0002” tolerances?

[Organic Panic]

“These characteristics are especially important for the turbines used in power plants”

Sorry... Biden has promised to end ‘carbon’ fueled turbine based electricity generation...

[marktwain]

Can 3D printing hold +/-.0002” tolerances?

It depends. I see at least one machine in production which claims 1 micron (about .0004" tolerances). The field is rapidly improving. I might be able to give you a good answer if I were an industry insider.

[ABN 505]

I worked on sintering furnaces for years , it's an amazing process for difficult to machine parts like small gears and vanes involving powdered metal , powerful presses and high temps, miss those days.

[know.your.why]

I see at least one machine in production which claims 1 micron

If so, that is truly amazing. Production times have to be sky high at that tight of resolution I bet. But just imagine...having overhangs and tall-thin webs and holes that dont have line of sight access for traditional machining methods. Cooling ducts with no mating part and no gaskets. No debur ops. No chips!! omg...Back spotfaces. Raised/recessed text in areas to aid assembly. Thats a mfg engineers wetdream. I'm getting moist. I wish Kelly Johnson was alive to dream stuff up with this tech.

[Yo-Yo]

Aside from the possible turbine use, the materials could be used in IC Engine components, like pistons and combustion chambers or sleeves.

Interesting that the article is touting the use of this superalloy in powerplant turbines which use superheated steam, rather than in jet engines, which combust kerosene.

Lighter and stronger would be much more valuable in a jet turbine engine than in a powerplant.

The article mentions temperatures up to 800C, which is not very hot for a jet engine. Today's high efficiency jet engines operate their turbines at up to 1,700C, over twice as hot.

[marktwain]

The build volume on this machine is pretty small, about 2"x2"x4". It builds at about 1mm per hour, so to use the entire volume would be about 2-4 days.

On the other hand, there are much larger machines around, for much more money.

Getting good data is not easy. They want me to submit data for a quote.

[bert]

strength...... Compression, tension and what about centrifugal?

I cringe at the thought of a very minor printing defect resulting in the rotor being slung apart

[Sirius Lee]

I cringe at the thought of a very minor printing defect resulting in the rotor being slung apart

It's why, whether machined or printed, you subject them to fluoroscopy.

[Red Badger]

That is what testing is for.

I worked in electronics QC for 20 years and anything can happen.

Being the first person to plug in a device right out of production is an adventure..................🤦‍♀️

[Ancesthntr]

Check out my tagline

[Ancesthntr]

This is great news…but all quite useless if the grid goes (or is taken) down: https://griddownpowerup.com/. I am more concerned about the grid being up than it’s efficiency.

[null and void]

Great story. Ends at the very beginning...