Arced Airfoil Baffle Layout for Consistent Impingement Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing airfoil designs with convex leading ends and straight ribs face challenges in incorporating baffles for enhanced impingement cooling due to the formation of D-shaped cavities, which make it impossible to maintain a consistent gap and stand-off distance for baffles, hindering efficient cooling.

Innovation Solution

The use of an arced rib and arced baffle in the airfoil section, where the arced rib partitions the internal core cavity into a semi-circular arced cavity, allowing the arced baffle to be inserted and removed along an arced path, maintaining a consistent gap and stand-off distance for effective cooling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a straight rib is used in the airfoil section, then the manufacturing is simpler, but the baffle cannot maintain a consistent gap and stand-off distance for effective impingement cooling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconsistent gap and stand-off distance for baffleVSAvoidairfoil internal structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The straight rib is replaced with an arced rib that has a curved profile matching the convex leading end geometry. This curvature allows the baffle to be positioned at a consistent stand-off distance from the convex leading end while maintaining a uniform gap for effective impingement cooling, resolving the geometric incompatibility between straight ribs and convex leading ends.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Productivity

If a convex leading end is used for improved aerodynamic performance, then the aerodynamic efficiency is enhanced, but the formation of D-shaped cavities makes it impossible to maintain consistent gap and stand-off distance for baffles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaerodynamic performanceVSAvoidconsistent gap and stand-off distance for baffle

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The arced rib's curved profile is specifically designed to complement the convex leading end geometry, transforming the problematic D-shaped cavity into a regular arced cavity. This allows the baffle to be positioned with a consistent stand-off distance from the convex leading end while maintaining a uniform gap, enabling effective impingement cooling without compromising aerodynamic performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The arced rib introduces local geometric variation in the airfoil internal structure, creating a specialized arced cavity geometry in the region of the convex leading end. This localized geometric adaptation allows the baffle to function effectively in this specific region while the rest of the airfoil structure can maintain its overall design requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If the arced baffle is inserted along a straight path, then the assembly process is simpler, but the baffle cannot be properly positioned in the arced cavity with consistent gap and stand-off distance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebaffle insertion processVSAvoidbaffle position and orientation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The arced baffle is designed with a curved profile that matches the arced cavity geometry. When inserted along an arced path that follows the cavity curvature, the baffle naturally positions itself with the correct orientation and consistent stand-off distance from the convex leading end, ensuring proper gap maintenance for impingement cooling while accommodating the curved geometry of the cavity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables efficient impingement cooling by ensuring a constant gap and stand-off distance for the arced baffle, enhancing cooling performance while accommodating convex leading ends for improved aerodynamic performance.

Implementation Method 1

enables efficient impingement cooling by ensuring a constant gap and stand-off distance for the arced baffle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImpingement cooling: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS12553348B2Airfoil with arced baffle

Publication Date: 2026.02.17 RTX CORP

AI summary

An airfoil includes an airfoil section that has an airfoil wall that defines a convex leading end, a trailing end, and first and second sides that join the convex leading end and the trailing end. The first and second sides span in a longitudinal direction between first and second ends. The airfoil wall circumscribes an internal core cavity. An arced rib is disposed in the internal core cavity and arcs toward the convex leading end. The arced rib and the convex leading define there between an arced cavity. An arced baffle is disposed in the arced cavity.