Turbomachine Blade Platform Cooling Device
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Turbine blades in gas turbine engines experience overheating, particularly on the pressure side platforms, due to inadequate cooling, which can lead to thermal damage and inefficiencies in the turbomachine's operation.
Innovation Solution
A platform cooling device is designed to be positioned underneath the blade platform, featuring a peripheral edge with impingement holes for targeted cooling and a barrier separating two cavities, allowing for distinct cooling configurations to address varying temperature needs, with separate manufacturing and connection to the blade via brazing or other methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If film cooling holes are provided on the platform surface to cool the platform, then the platform cooling effect is improved, but the manufacturing time and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the cooling function from the traditional film cooling holes approach and implements it through a separate platform cooling device positioned underneath the platform. This device includes a cooling element with cooling channels that deliver cooling fluid directly to the platform's underside, eliminating the need for complex film cooling hole patterns on the platform surface itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary platform cooling device that acts as a mediator between the cooling fluid supply and the platform. This cooling device includes a cooling element positioned underneath the platform, with cooling channels that transport cooling fluid to thermal exchange elements in contact with the platform, providing indirect but effective cooling without modifying the platform surface.
2Temperature
If more cooling air is provided to the platform to improve cooling effectiveness, then the platform temperature control is improved, but the cooling air consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by providing cooling only where it is most needed - underneath the platform surface. The cooling element includes thermal exchange elements that are positioned in direct contact with or close to the platform underside, delivering cooling fluid locally to the hot platform area without wasting cooling air on other blade components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes pneumatic principles by employing cooling fluid (air) flowing through controlled channels in the cooling element. The cooling channels guide the cooling fluid to specific locations, and the fluid flow through these channels provides efficient heat transfer from the platform to the cooling fluid, reducing the total quantity of cooling air needed compared to conventional methods.
3Ease of manufacture
If a integrated cooling structure is used for the blade and platform, then the manufacturing complexity is reduced, but the adaptability for different cooling configurations is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the blade cooling system into separate functional components: the blade itself and a detachable platform cooling device. The cooling element can be manufactured separately and then attached to the blade platform, allowing each component to be optimized independently while maintaining ease of assembly. This segmentation enables different cooling configurations to be applied to different blades by simply changing the cooling element.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces dynamic adaptability by making the platform cooling device detachable and replaceable. The cooling element can be removed and replaced with different cooling element designs depending on the specific cooling requirements of different blade types or operating conditions, providing versatility without complicating the manufacturing of individual components.
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 enables highly controlled cooling of the blade platform, allowing for higher operating temperatures without thermal damage, optimizing cooling fluid distribution, and improving the overall efficiency of the turbomachine.
Implementation Method 1
a first surface portion configured to form a first cavity between the platform cooling device and the platform, the first surface portion comprising a plurality of impingement holes configured to impinge onto the platform
Implementation Method 2
a barrier separating the first cavity from the second cavity fluidically
Data Source
AI summary
A turbomachine arrangement having a platform cooling device for a blade positioned at a platform of the blade. The cooling device's peripheral edge is in contact with the platform; a first surface portion forms a first cavity between the cooling device and platform and has impingement holes to impinge onto the platform; a second surface portion forms a second cavity between the cooling device and platform; a barrier in contact with the platform forms a connection between two sections of the edge and fluidically separates the first and second cavity. The cooling device is connected at the edge to the blade so the first and second cavity are formed between the cooling device and blade. The blade has a supply passage, connecting a hollow core and the second cavity for supplying cooling fluid to the second cavity and the first cavity is supplied with cooling fluid via the impingement holes.