Development of metal AM technology for gas turbine components

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) Group has been developing additive manufacturing (AM) as a method that can manufacture parts with complex shapes and considering its application to manufacturing processes. In combustor components, application of AM process to rapid prototyping and multi-cluster nozzles for hydrogen or ammonia gas fuel is being considered. In turbine parts, with the aim of improving performance by reducing the amount of cooling air, the adoption of a complex internal cooling structure, which cannot be made with conventional manufacturing methods but can only be made by AM, is being considered. This paper describes design for AM technology for gas turbine components and metal AM process technology such as building simulation based high stiffness support design and pre-set distortion, microstructure control by laser scanning conditions, quality control through in-process monitoring tools and application of AM technology to gas Turbine Components.