3-D printed oil sealing rings installed on SST-300 steam turbine operating in India.
Siemens reaches an industry milestone in the area of additive manufacturing (AM) in the power generation industry with the company's first replacement parts 3D-printed from metal for an industrial steam turbine. The company is reportedly utilizing state-of-the-art AM technology to pave the way for greater agility in steam turbine component manufacturing and maintenance and to set new benchmarks for industrial power plant services. Last year, Siemens achieved another breakthrough by finishing its first full-load engine tests for gas turbine blades completely produced using AM technology.The 3D-printed parts are two oil sealing rings used in keeping oil separated from steam inside the steam turbine using pressurized air. The rings are being installed as replacement parts on the SST-300 industrial steam turbine operating at the JSW Steel Ltd. plant in Salem, India. Siemens engineered, designed and developed the parts as part of a collaborative project between Siemens experts in Germany and India, as well as in Sweden, where the company operates a primary additive manufacturing center of expertise.
Siemens has reportedly been investing in AM from its inception. Additive Manufacturing is a process that builds parts layer-by-layer from sliced CAD models to form solid objects. This enables highly precise solutions to be formed from powdered high-performance materials. Siemens also uses the technology for rapid prototyping, manufacturing and advanced repairs.
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