Guide Vane Heat Pipe Wall for Uniform Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional guide vanes for turbomachines face challenges in achieving efficient cooling with uniform temperature distribution and stability while minimizing mass and geometric constraints, particularly under high-pressure conditions.
Innovation Solution
A guide vane with a monolithic heat pipe wall interpenetrated by a capillary system, formed through additive manufacturing, such as selective laser welding, which eliminates coatings and allows for optimized capillary integration and porosity variations for enhanced thermal conductivity and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a coating is applied to the guide vane wall to form heat conduction pipes, then the cooling function is provided, but the heat exposure is reduced and temperature distribution uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the coating layer and the base wall material into a monolithic structure through additive manufacturing. The heat pipe wall is produced as a single continuous component where the coating and substrate are seamlessly integrated, eliminating the interface between coating and wall that exists in conventional coated structures. This integration improves heat exposure efficiency while maintaining uniform temperature distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the manufacturing method parameter from conventional coating processes to additive manufacturing. This parameter change enables the creation of a monolithic heat pipe wall structure with optimized material properties and continuous material transition, resolving the contradiction between heat exposure efficiency and temperature uniformity that plagues coated structures.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the guide vane wall is made thicker to improve stability, then stability is improved, but the mass increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a monolithic heat pipe wall structure where the material properties and capillary distribution are optimized locally throughout the wall thickness. The continuous material transition and integrated capillary system provide enhanced thermal performance that allows for thinner wall sections while maintaining stability, thereby reducing mass without compromising structural integrity.
3Temperature
If cooling air is admitted into the flow channel for cooling, then the cooling function is provided, but thermodynamic losses occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service cooling through the heat pipe effect. The monolithic heat pipe wall structure utilizes the phase change and capillary action of the integrated material system to transport heat and cooling fluid autonomously without requiring external cooling air admission. This self-driven thermal management eliminates the thermodynamic losses associated with forced convection cooling while maintaining effective temperature control.
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 efficient cooling with uniform temperature distribution, reduced mass, and improved stability, allowing the guide vane to operate effectively under high-pressure conditions without relying on cooling air, thus suitable for high-pressure compressor applications.
Implementation Method 1
the condensate is conveyed by means of capillaries back to the wall coating of the chambers in the guide vane
Implementation Method 2
In the capillaries thereof, the fluid is then conveyed back to the hot region, where it evaporates once again
Implementation Method 3
which, in the gaseous state, flows through a cavity from a hot region to a cooler region, condenses there, and, in a liquid state, is taken up by a capillary system
Implementation Method 4
The heat pipe wall structure has a continuous material transition from a first surface (the heat pipe wall), which delimits the guide vane toward the outside, to a second surface (the heat pipe wall), which lies opposite to the first surface and delimits (at least partially) an evaporation cavity
Data Source
AI summary
A guide vane for a turbomachine is disclosed. The guide vane includes a heat pipe wall that is interpenetrated by a capillary system, which has a continuous material transition from a first surface, which delimits the guide vane toward the outside, to a second surface, which lies opposite to the first surface and delimits an evaporation cavity in the interior of the guide vane. Further disclosed is a method for producing a guide vane having a heat pipe wall, wherein at least the heat pipe wall is formed by additive manufacture.