Oct 12 2007
Curtiss-Wright Corporation announced today that Siemens Power Generation has begun utilizing its laser peening technology to improve the fatigue strength of titanium last row blades on certain of their advanced steam turbines. The last row blades extract energy from the steam to drive electrical generators. Although laser peening technology has been utilized for several years to strengthen critical titanium components in commercial and military turbine engines, this application represents its first production use in power generation steam turbines.
"Curtiss-Wright's state-of-the-art laser peening technology enables Siemens to extend the life of a critical component in its advanced steam turbine design, and thus improve the overall system reliability," said Martin R. Benante, Chairman and CEO of Curtiss-Wright Corporation. "By enhancing the durability and reliability of critical components, our unique technology has already provided unsurpassed economic benefits on jet engines and we anticipate additional demand for this advanced product for aerospace structures, nuclear power generation, medical implants, oil and gas drilling and performance racing applications."
Curtiss-Wright's laser peening technology is based on a Neodymium glass laser technology, which was originally developed by Curtiss-Wright in conjunction with the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The laser beam with a peak power output of 1000 Megawatts is pulsed and directed at the surface of metal parts to be treated. One million pounds per square inch pressure waves are generated at the surface that compress the metal and leave behind a protective residual compressive stress layer beneath the surface. This compressive stress acts to increase the component's resistance to failure mechanisms such as fatigue, fretting fatigue and stress corrosion cracking, which in turn translates into increased component life and reduced maintenance costs.
Curtiss-Wright provides this service through its Metal Treatment segment which has production facilities in Livermore, CA and Earby, UK. Laser peening continues to gain momentum as a premier metal surface treatment for highly stressed components of steel, titanium, aluminum and other metals, where extended life or improved durability is important. Curtiss-Wright's Metal Treatment segment also operates mobile laser peening systems that can be transferred and set up anywhere in the world to bring the benefits of the laser peening technology to field applications.