Angled Impingement Insert for Gas Turbine Particulate Mitigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Particulate accumulation in gas turbine engines reduces efficiency and cooling effectiveness, as existing solutions like increased airflow often compromise internal cooling features and increase component temperatures.

Innovation Solution

An engine component with an insert featuring an array of openings at a non-orthogonal angle to the surface, which reduces stagnation and flow recirculation, mitigating particulate accumulation by directing cooling air effectively onto the surface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If additional flow is used to increase surface cooling, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but internal cooling feature effectiveness is deemphasized and more compressed air is consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent temperatureVSAvoidcompressed air consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the geometric parameter of the cooling holes by introducing a non-orthogonal angle relative to the surface normal. This angular parameter modification redirects the cooling airflow to reduce stagnation regions while maintaining effective cooling with the same air flow rate, thus resolving the contradiction between cooling effectiveness and compressed air consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different hole angles at different locations on the surface to address local variations in cooling requirements and flow patterns. By tailoring the angle of each cooling hole to its specific location, the system optimizes local cooling effectiveness without increasing overall air consumption, resolving the contradiction locally across the surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Temperature

If additional flow is used to increase surface cooling, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but internal cooling features become less effective

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurface cooling effectivenessVSAvoidinternal cooling feature effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By modifying the angular parameter of the cooling holes from orthogonal to non-orthogonal, the patent redirects airflow to eliminate stagnation regions that undermine internal cooling features. This parameter change allows the internal cooling features to function effectively without requiring additional overall flow, thus resolving the contradiction between surface cooling effectiveness and internal cooling feature reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If orthogonal cooling holes are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but stagnation and flow recirculation regions form leading to particulate accumulation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling hole fabricationVSAvoidparticulate accumulation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the angular parameter of the cooling holes from orthogonal (90 degrees) to non-orthogonal angles. This parameter change eliminates stagnation and recirculation regions that cause particulate accumulation, while the manufacturing process remains similarly simple by using standard drilling or machining operations at adjusted angles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Object-affected harmful factors

If cooling air flow is increased to reduce particulate accumulation, then particulate mitigation is improved, but more compressed air is consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveparticulate accumulationVSAvoidcompressed air consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

By changing the angular parameter of the cooling holes to non-orthogonal orientations, the patent redirects airflow to eliminate stagnation regions where particulates accumulate. This geometric modification achieves particulate mitigation without increasing the overall compressed air consumption, as the same airflow is more effectively distributed to prevent accumulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution improves cooling effectiveness and reduces particulate accumulation, maintaining component temperatures and enhancing engine performance without compromising internal cooling features.

Implementation Method 1

The cooling flow path passes through the plurality of openings to cool the cooled surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 2

The second component having the angled openings reduces stagnation and flow recirculation regions along the surface of the first engine component

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Data Source

PatentUS9957816B2Angled impingement insert

Publication Date: 2018.05.01 GENERAL ELECTRIC CO

AI summary

An engine component with particulate mitigation features is provided. The engine component comprises an internal engine component surface having a cooling flow path on one side thereof and a second component adjacent to the first component. The second component, for example an insert, may have a plurality of openings forming an array wherein the openings extend through the second component at a non-orthogonal angle to the surface of the second component.