The most common problem with aging coal-fired units involves erosion of the steam turbine’s blade path. More efficient blading will increase the steam output and improve the unit’s overall heat rate.

Wire arc additive manufacturing allowed this robot arm at ORNL to transform metal wire into a complete steam turbine blade like those used in power plants. Researchers at the Department of Energy’s ...

Steam gets scary in many ways at very high temperatures, and a Rankine cycle isn't all that efficient (although can be (and generally is) improved with "reheat" cycles ... which are needed in the ...