Turbomachine Cooling Lattice With Hollow Struts for Lower Bleed Air

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Solution Overview

Problem

Gas turbine components face high temperatures, exceeding the limits of materials used, necessitating cooling methods that reduce efficiency and pose challenges in maintaining component lifespan due to varying temperature levels across different regions.

Innovation Solution

A cooled machine component with a lattice structure incorporating hollow and solid struts, allowing for convection cooling by guiding cooling fluid through a void space with inlet and outlet connections, providing both inner and outer cooling to the struts, which are thermally coupled to the component's hot surfaces, effectively transferring heat away.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If cooling features are integrated into gas turbine components, then component temperature is reduced and lifespan is extended, but engine efficiency decreases due to cooling fluid extraction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent temperatureVSAvoidengine efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The component incorporates a lattice structure with void spaces that allow cooling fluid to flow through the component body. This porous-like structure enables internal cooling surfaces to be exposed to cooling fluid, increasing heat transfer area and cooling efficiency while minimizing cooling fluid requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling fluid flow path extends into the third dimension by flowing through void spaces within the lattice structure. This three-dimensional cooling approach maximizes heat transfer surface area within the component volume, improving cooling efficiency without requiring excessive cooling fluid

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Temperature

If cooling fluid is extracted from the main fluid path for component cooling, then component temperature is controlled, but engine productivity decreases due to reduced main fluid flow

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent temperatureVSAvoidengine output

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The lattice structure creates internal void spaces that serve as cooling channels, allowing cooling fluid to flow through the component body. This approach maximizes cooling surface area within the component volume, improving cooling efficiency and reducing the quantity of cooling fluid required, thereby minimizing impact on engine productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

3Temperature

If complex cooling channels are integrated into component walls, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling effectivenessVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The lattice structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support to the component, creates internal void spaces for cooling fluid flow, and increases heat transfer surface area. This multi-functionality integrates cooling capabilities into the component design without requiring separate cooling systems, simplifying manufacturing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The lattice structure parameters (cell size, strut thickness, void fraction) can be optimized to balance cooling effectiveness and structural requirements. By adjusting these parameters, the design achieves adequate cooling performance while maintaining manufacturability through controlled complexity

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 enhances cooling efficiency by allowing the cooling fluid to flow through the lattice structure without 'blind regions', effectively reducing temperatures and extending component lifespan while minimizing the amount of cooling fluid needed, thus maintaining engine efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

allowing for convection cooling by guiding cooling fluid through a void space with inlet and outlet connections

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection cooling: Convection

Implementation Method 2

effectively transferring heat away

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS11371438B2Machine component, particularly a turbomachine component, with cooling features and a method for manufacturing and of operation

Publication Date: 2022.06.28 SIEMENS ENERGY GLOBAL GMBH & CO KG

AI summary

A cooled machine component having a body with at least one integrated cooling channel having a lattice structure for guiding a cooling fluid through an interior, the lattice structure arranged as a void space penetrated by a plurality of hollow or solid struts. The lattice structure has an inlet for providing the cooling fluid to be guided through the void space of the lattice structure, and has an outlet for receiving the cooling fluid, the outlet being fluidically connected to a hollow interior of at least one of the plurality of hollow struts. At least a subset of the hollow struts provides a fluidic connection for cooling fluid from the outlet to a plurality of further downstream discharge ports. Walls of the body surrounding each of the plurality of further downstream discharge ports are physically connected to corresponding jackets of the at least one of the plurality of hollow struts.