Combustor Panel Aperture Cooling Flow Path Inversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
The combustor panels in gas turbines face durability issues due to exposure to high-temperature combustion gases, with existing cooling methods resulting in residual stress and low cooling performance near apertures, leading to thermal stress and potential cracking.
Innovation Solution
The combustor panel design features a higher number of aperture-side inlet flow paths compared to aperture-vicinity flow paths, with inlets on the outer surface and outlets on the inner surface, and strategically positions flow paths to minimize residual stress and enhance cooling performance, including curved sections to manage stress from press machining.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the outlets of aperture-vicinity flow paths are formed on the aperture side, then the outlets are brought in close proximity to the edge of the aperture, but higher residual stress remains in the vicinity of the aperture and cooling performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional arrangement by forming the inlets of aperture-vicinity flow paths on the outer surface (aperture side) rather than on the inner surface. This inversion allows cooling air to enter near the aperture where stress is highest, flow through the path, and exit on the inner surface away from the aperture edge, thereby simultaneously achieving high cooling performance in the high-stress region and reduced residual stress concentration.
2Stress or pressure
If the shortest distances from the edge of the aperture to the aperture-vicinity flow paths are increased, then stress is reduced, but a wide non-cooled area arises and high thermal stress occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different inlet positions for different flow paths. Specifically, aperture-vicinity flow paths have inlets on the outer surface near the aperture to provide intensive local cooling where thermal stress is highest, while other flow paths may have different inlet positions. This localized differentiation optimizes cooling efficiency in the critical aperture region without requiring all flow paths to be positioned far from the aperture.
3Temperature
If cooling air flows through aperture-vicinity flow paths with outlets on the aperture side, then the cooling air has been heated while flowing and has low cooling performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-positioning the inlets of aperture-vicinity flow paths on the outer surface, allowing fresh, cool air to be introduced directly into the high-temperature zone near the aperture before the cooling air becomes heated. This ensures that the cooling air maintains its low temperature and high cooling effectiveness as it flows through the aperture-vicinity regions where it is most needed.
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 the durability of combustor panels by reducing thermal stress and residual stress, improving cooling performance, and preventing cracking, while maintaining uniform cooling across the panel.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of cooling flow paths that extend between the inner surface and the outer surface in a direction along the inner surface, with which a cooling medium flows
Implementation Method 2
the outlets of which are formed on the inner surface... this cooling air has been heated while flowing through the aperture-vicinity flow paths
Data Source
AI summary
A combustor panel having a plurality of cooling flow paths formed between the outer surface and the inner surface of the combustor panel. The cooling flow paths have inlets that open at the outer surface and introduce a cooling medium into their interior, and outlets that open at the inner surface and discharge the cooling medium flowing through their interior. Among the plurality of cooling flow paths, each of plurality of cooling flow paths extending from a position along the edge of an aperture of the combustor panel forms an aperture-vicinity flow path. Among the plurality of aperture-vicinity flow paths, each of the aperture-vicinity flow paths for which the inlet is formed closer to the aperture than the outlet forms an aperture-side inlet flow path. The number of the aperture-side inlet flow paths is greater than one-half of the all of the aperture-vicinity flow paths.