Airfoil Trip Strips for Vortex Cooling Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
In gas turbine engines, increased demands for higher thrust and efficiency lead to higher turbine inlet temperatures, reducing the gas allocated for cooling, which can result in reduced engine efficiency and erratic air recirculation patterns in internal flow cooling systems, limiting their efficacy.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of trip strips with different geometries on opposing surfaces within impingement chambers to direct air or coolant flow in a vortex motion, enhancing heat transfer and reducing recirculation by configuring channels and exit passages to manage cooling fluid flow effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If higher turbine inlet temperatures are used to meet thrust and efficiency demands, then engine performance is improved, but the gas allocated for cooling is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the flow parameters by introducing trip strips that generate vortex motion, transforming the cooling air flow from erratic recirculation to controlled vortex patterns. This enhances heat transfer efficiency, allowing effective cooling with reduced cooling air allocation, thus resolving the contradiction between engine performance and cooling air availability
Solution Approach 2:
The trip strips induce a phase transition in the flow regime from laminar/recirculating flow to turbulent vortex flow. This transition dramatically improves heat transfer coefficients, enabling the system to maintain cooling effectiveness with less cooling air, thereby addressing the contradiction
2Temperature
If more cooling air is bled from the compressor for internal convection cooling, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but engine efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs pneumatic principles by using the trip strips to generate vortex flow patterns within the cooling cavities. This vortex motion enhances convective heat transfer coefficients, improving cooling effectiveness without requiring increased cooling air flow, thus maintaining engine efficiency while achieving better cooling
Solution Approach 2:
The trip strips create dynamic vortex flow patterns that actively enhance heat transfer. The rotational motion and associated secondary flows improve mixing and heat transfer coefficients dynamically, allowing effective cooling with reduced cooling air demand, resolving the contradiction between cooling effectiveness and engine efficiency
3Device complexity
If air recirculates in an uncontrolled pattern in internal cavities, then the cooling system structure is simple, but the efficacy of internal flow cooling is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the flow control function from the complex cavity geometry and implements it through simple trip strip elements. These strips are placed within the existing cavities to generate vortex flow, improving cooling efficacy without requiring major structural changes to the cooling system, thus resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and cooling efficacy
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
This configuration improves heat transfer and reduces recirculation, enhancing the efficiency of internal cooling systems by directing cooling fluid in a vortex motion, thereby improving engine performance and reducing the need for excessive cooling air, which maintains engine efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The first trip strip and the second trip strip may be configured to direct air flow in a vortex motion
Implementation Method 2
Cooling air from the compressor can be routed to provide internal convection cooling within the airfoils
Implementation Method 3
an impingement chamber in fluid communication with the cross over
Data Source
AI summary
An airfoil is provided. The airfoil may comprise a cross over, an impingement chamber in fluid communication with the cross over, and a first trip strip disposed on a first surface of the impingement chamber. A cooling system is also provided. The cooling system may comprise an impingement chamber, a first trip strip on a first surface of the impingement chamber, and a second trip strip on a second surface of the impingement chamber. An internally cooled engine part is further provided. The internally cooled part may comprise a cross over and an impingement chamber in fluid communication with the cross over. The cross over may be configured to direct air towards a first surface of the impingement chamber. A first trip strip may be disposed on the first surface of the impingement chamber.