Turbine Blade Tip Rail Cooling via Radial Cavities

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Solution Overview

Problem

Turbine blade tip rails experience high heat loads and are difficult to effectively cool, which affects the efficiency of gas turbine engines.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates radially-spaced cooling cavities within the tip rail, connected by angled conduits and film-holes to efficiently distribute cooling fluid and maintain cooling effectiveness even as the tip rail wears down.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If traditional cooling circuits are used in tip rails, then cooling coverage is provided, but cooling effectiveness deteriorates due to high heat loads and difficulty in effective cooling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetip rail temperatureVSAvoidcooling effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling system is segmented into multiple radially-spaced cooling cavities (first cooling cavity, second cooling cavity, third cooling cavity) within the tip rail, each receiving cooling fluid through separate conduits. This segmentation allows targeted cooling of different regions of the tip rail, improving overall cooling effectiveness despite high heat loads.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces radial spacing between cooling cavities in addition to axial distribution, creating a three-dimensional cooling network. The radially-spaced cavities are connected by angled conduits that extend through the tip rail thickness, providing cooling coverage in multiple spatial dimensions to handle the high heat loads effectively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If cooling conduits are configured to deliver cooling fluid, then cooling is provided, but cooling effectiveness deteriorates as tip rail wears down

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous cooling deliveryVSAvoidservice life under wear

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the tip rail are equipped with different cooling cavities at specific radial positions. The first cooling cavity is positioned at a first radial position, the second cooling cavity at a second radial position, and the third cooling cavity at a third radial position. This local differentiation ensures that as wear occurs in specific regions, other regions maintain cooling capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The multiple radially-spaced cooling cavities provide a backup system against wear. As the tip rail wears down over time, cooling cavities at different radial positions remain effective, ensuring continuous cooling delivery throughout the service life of the blade even as material is removed from the tip rail surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Reliability

If multiple radially-spaced cooling cavities are used, then cooling coverage is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling distribution effectivenessVSAvoidcooling circuit complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple cooling cavities are merged into a single integrated cooling system within the tip rail. The first, second, and third cooling cavities are all connected to the main cooling passage through conduits, forming a unified cooling network that distributes cooling fluid systematically across different radial positions of the tip rail.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it cools different regions of the tip rail through radially-spaced cavities, accommodates wear over time by maintaining cooling at various radial positions, and distributes cooling fluid through a network of conduits and cavities that work together as a multi-functional thermal management system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 design enhances cooling efficiency and maintains effective heat removal despite wear, ensuring consistent engine performance by ensuring continuous cooling fluid delivery and distribution across the tip rail.

Implementation Method 1

contemporary turbine blades, as well as vanes or nozzles, generally include one or more interior cooling circuits for routing the cooling air through the blade to cool different portions of the blade

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 2

a cooling conduit fluidly coupling the cooling passage with at least one of the at least two radially-spaced cooling cavities

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS12065946B2Blade with tip rail cooling

Publication Date: 2024.08.20 GE INFRASTRUCTURE TECH LLC

AI summary

An airfoil includes a body, a cooling passage, a first cooling cavity, a second cooling cavity, a cooling conduit, and a connecting conduit. The body defines an interior and includes a tip rail with an exterior surface extending between a first surface, a second surface, and a third surface. The cooling passage is formed within the interior. The first cooling cavity and the second cooling cavity are spaced from each other within the tip rail. The cooling conduit fluidly couples the cooling passage with the first cooling cavity. The connecting conduit fluidly couples the first cooling cavity to the second cooling cavity.