Angled Flow Passageways for Gas Turbine Rim Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern gas turbine engines face challenges in effectively cooling rotating blade structures within the turbine section due to high pressure ratios and firing temperatures, leading to overheating issues, and existing cooling systems struggle to prevent hot gas ingestion into the turbine rim cavity.
Innovation Solution
A cooling fluid metering structure is implemented in the gas turbine engine, featuring bypass passages and a metering structure with angled flow passageways that direct cooling fluid tangentially into the turbine rim cavity, combined with a pre-swirl structure and particle deflecting system to enhance cooling efficiency and prevent hot gas ingestion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cooling fluid is supplied to the turbine rim cavity, then cooling of blade disc and stator structures is improved, but hot gas ingestion into the turbine rim cavity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling fluid supply system is segmented into multiple separate passages: a first passage supplying cooling fluid to the blade disc structure and a second passage supplying cooling fluid to the turbine rim cavity. This segmentation allows independent control of cooling fluid distribution to different components, enabling adequate cooling of the blade disc while maintaining proper sealing in the turbine rim cavity to prevent hot gas ingestion.
2Temperature
If cooling fluid flow rate is increased, then cooling of rotating blade structures is improved, but particle-induced blockages increase
Solution Approach 1:
A particle separator is introduced into the cooling fluid supply system to extract and remove solid particles from the cooling fluid before it enters the turbine section. This extraction of harmful particles allows the system to operate at high cooling fluid flow rates without risking particle-induced blockages in the cooling passages or turbine components.
3Area of stationary object
If cooling fluid is directed axially into the turbine section, then cooling coverage is improved, but tangential velocity component for preventing hot gas ingestion is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The flow passageways are designed with different orientation characteristics for different regions: the first flow passageway directs cooling fluid axially to the blade disc structure for comprehensive cooling coverage, while the second flow passageway directs cooling fluid with a tangential velocity component to the turbine rim cavity to prevent hot gas ingestion. This local differentiation of flow direction optimizes both cooling coverage and hot gas prevention.
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
The solution ensures adequate cooling of blade disc and stator structures, prevents hot gas ingestion, and maintains efficient engine operation by directing cooling fluid with a tangential velocity component, while the particle deflecting system effectively separates solid particles, improving engine efficiency and reducing the risk of particle-induced blockages.
Implementation Method 1
metering structure with angled flow passageways that direct cooling fluid tangentially into the turbine rim cavity
Implementation Method 2
particle deflecting system to enhance cooling efficiency and prevent hot gas ingestion
Data Source
AI summary
A gas turbine engine includes a supply of cooling fluid, a rotatable shaft, structure defining at least one bypass passage in fluid communication with the supply of cooling fluid for supplying cooling fluid from the supply of cooling fluid, and metering structure located at an outlet of the at least one bypass passage. The metering structure includes at least one flow passageway extending therethrough at an angle to a central axis of the engine for permitting cooling fluid in the bypass passage to pass into a turbine rim cavity. The cooling fluid flowing out of the flow passageway has a velocity component in a direction tangential to the circumferential direction in the same direction as a rotation direction of the shaft.