Gas Turbine Cooling Passage Debris Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Components for gas turbine engines face degradation due to debris accumulation in internal cooling passages, which existing technologies have not adequately addressed, leading to performance issues and potential maintenance challenges.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a first projection within the cooling passages to direct debris away from the passage surface and into a third passage, with a second projection guiding debris into a dirt purge outlet, effectively preventing accumulation and enhancing debris removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cooling passages are designed with turns to accommodate complex internal cooling paths, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but debris accumulation on passage walls increases
Solution Approach 1:
The projection is positioned upstream of the passage turn to preemptively redirect debris particles before they can impact and accumulate on the passage walls. This preliminary intervention prevents the harmful effect before it occurs, allowing the passage turn to maintain its cooling function without suffering from debris accumulation problems.
2Device complexity
If the passage turn radius is reduced to compact the component design, then device complexity is reduced, but debris impact on walls increases
Solution Approach 1:
The projection creates a localized modification at a specific position within the passage turn, altering the flow characteristics only in that critical region. This local intervention allows the overall passage configuration to remain compact while specifically addressing the debris impact problem at the turn location where it occurs.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If projections are added to direct debris away from passage walls, then debris removal is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The projection utilizes the existing cooling fluid flow to automatically redirect debris particles without requiring any additional active components, motors, or control systems. The structure passively leverages the fluid dynamics already present in the system to achieve debris removal, avoiding further increases in device complexity.
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 effectively prevents debris accumulation on the passage surface, reducing the risk of performance degradation and maintenance needs by ensuring efficient debris removal through the dirt purge outlet.
Implementation Method 1
a first projection extending from a passage surface of the component body within the first passage and configured to direct debris transiting the first passage away from the second passage and into the third passage
Implementation Method 2
The cooling fluid transiting the cooling passages may include dirt, debris, or other particulate entrained therein
Data Source
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AI summary
A component (54) includes a component body (72). The component (54) further includes a first passage (80) disposed in the component body (72). The first passage (80) includes a first end (86) and a second end (88) opposite the first end (86). The component (54) further includes a second passage (82). The second passage (82) extends from the second end (88) of the first passage (80). The second passage (82) includes a turn (102). The component (54) further includes a third passage (84). The third passage (84) extends from the second end (88) of the first passage (80). The component (54) further includes a first projection (110) extending from a passage surface (112) of the component body (72) within the first passage (80). The first projection (110) is disposed between the first and the second end (86, 88) of the first passage (80) and is configured to direct debris transiting the first passage (80) away from the second passage (82) and into the third passage (84).