Stationary blades for a steam turbine and method of assembling same

A steam turbine comprising:

• a casing comprising a supply passage defined therein, said supply passage configured to receive an ejection fluid;
• an outer ring coupled to said casing, said outer ring comprising at least one outer ring inlet aperture defined therein and in flow communication with said supply passage;
• a set of stationary blades coupled to said outer ring and extending radially inward therefrom, wherein at least one of said stationary blades comprises:
• a suction side and an opposite pressure side;
• a plurality of ejection channels defined in said at least one stationary blade, each of said plurality of ejection channels extends through an outer surface of said pressure side, each of said plurality of ejection channels coupled in flow communication to said at least one outer ring inlet aperture;
• and
• wherein said at least one stationary blade extends radially from a first end to a second end and defines a span therebetween, said at least one stationary blade further comprises:
• a radially outer portion that extends radially inward from said first end to a first intermediate end;
• and
• a radially inner portion that extends radially outward from said second end to a second intermediate end, said second intermediate end coupled to said first intermediate end, wherein said plurality of ejection channels is defined solely in said radially outer portion.

A method of making a set of stationary blades for a steam turbine, the set of stationary blades coupled to an outer ring and extending radially inward therefrom, said method comprising:

• forming a suction side and an opposite pressure side of at least one of the stationary blades;
• forming a plurality of ejection channels within the at least one stationary blade, each of the ejection channels extends through an outer surface of the pressure side, each of the ejection channels coupled in flow communication to a blade inlet aperture of the at least one stationary blade;
• and
• wherein the at least one stationary blade extends radially from a first end to a second end and defines a span therebetween, and forming the plurality of ejection channels comprises distributing the plurality of ejection channels radially along a part-span portion of the diaphragm blade proximate the first end.