At the Intersection

This article highlights the role that advanced manufacturing will play as industry makes large investments. Advanced manufacturing can play a pivotal role in improving performance and reducing costs. This manufacturing may enable higher turbine inlet temperatures, new materials and coatings, improved cooling, and better sealing and three-dimensional aerodynamics to reduce losses. It can also achieve increased performance and operability through the integration of sensors in turbine components. The certification processes for components also needs attention. Without clear policies, the tremendous opportunities for the aftermarket repair business may result in intellectual property battles where lines can easily be blurred given the digitization of parts. Redesigning turbine airfoils presents tremendous opportunities to route valuable cooling air to regions where it was not previously possible to cool in an effective manner. The gas turbine is poised to become the most important thermal energy and propulsion device in the 21st century. Advanced manufacture will significantly alter how gas turbines are made and perhaps how they operate.