Additive Manufacturing Special Report - November 2023 - 12

Why the
Turbomachinery Industry
is Increasingly Bullish
on Additive Manufacturing
3D-printed metal-alloys are answering critical needs
for high fluid flow, high-pressure parts.
T
here's nothing more core
to turbomachinery than
moving fluid at increasingly
high speeds and pressures.
Whether we're talking about industrial
turbines, air breathing jet engines, or
liquid-rocket space applications, the
higher the pressure and the higher the
flow rate, the better the performance.
Using traditional manufacturing
techniques to produce the complex
parts needed to provide the best
possible performance can be a
12 NOVEMBER 2023
lengthy and costly process. Additive
manufacturing - specifically,
advanced metal powder-bed fusion
- has now reached a level of quality
and repeatability that makes it a viable
alternative to a variety of conventional
production methodologies. Casting,
with its long lead times and high
upfront cost, is no longer the optimal
method for prototyping, and in some
cases is even preferred for production.
Materials available in additive
manufacturing have been developed
and qualified through their history
and use in aerospace engineering.
Turbopump components are generally
made of nickel alloys, aluminums, and
titaniums. Material selection is driven
by material property requirements
(such as strength and ductility),
working fluid compatibility, operating
temperature, and machineability,
among other characteristics.
Inconels maintain strength at
high temperatures, have excellent
oxidation resistance, and are
ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SPECIAL REPORT
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Additive Manufacturing Special Report - November 2023

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