Impingement Sleeve Aperture Geometry for Turbine Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing impingement cooling systems in turbine systems face challenges in controlling cooling fluid flow, particularly in the presence of cross-flow, leading to inefficiencies and increased compressed air usage, which decreases turbine efficiency and increases operating costs.

Innovation Solution

The impingement sleeve features non-round apertures and conduits with varying geometries and orientations to control and concentrate fluid flow, ensuring efficient cooling of hard-to-reach areas and hot spots within a turbine nozzle, while reducing the amount of cooling fluid required.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an increased amount of cooling fluid is passed through the apertures in the impingement member, then sufficient cooling of the component is ensured, but an increased portion of compressed air is removed prior to reaching the combustor, which decreases efficiency and increases operating cost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling effectivenessVSAvoidcompressed air removal
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The impingement member features apertures with different geometries (round, oval, slot-shaped) distributed across its surface, with each aperture type strategically positioned to address specific local cooling requirements. The aperture geometries vary in orientation and shape to optimize cooling fluid distribution to different regions of the turbine component, ensuring effective cooling of hot spots and hard-to-reach areas while minimizing overall compressed air consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If cooling fluid flow is increased to cool hard-to-reach areas, then sufficient cooling is achieved, but the amount of compressed air required increases, decreasing turbine efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling coverageVSAvoidturbine efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The impingement member is segmented into multiple aperture regions with different aperture types (round apertures, oval apertures, slot-shaped apertures) positioned to target specific zones of the turbine component. This segmentation allows cooling fluid to be distributed to different areas with appropriate flow characteristics, ensuring hard-to-reach regions receive adequate cooling without requiring a uniform increase in total compressed air flow through all apertures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional round apertures are used in the impingement member, then manufacturing is simple, but control of cooling fluid flow is difficult, particularly in the presence of cross-flow

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaperture fabricationVSAvoidfluid flow control
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The impingement member incorporates non-round aperture geometries including oval apertures and slot-shaped apertures with specific aspect ratios and orientations. These asymmetric geometries are designed to control the direction and distribution of cooling fluid flow, reducing the influence of cross-flow effects and improving flow control to specific target areas on the turbine component, while still being manufacturable using standard fabrication processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

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, decreases fluid usage, and allows for higher operating temperatures by precisely directing cooling fluid flow, thereby improving turbine performance and reducing operational costs.

Implementation Method 1

The impingement member directs cooling fluid through the apertures and towards a surface that is intended to be cooled

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 2

directs cooling fluid through the apertures and towards a surface that is intended to be cooled

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3098386B1Impingement sleeve and method of forming an impingement sleeve
Publication Date: 2024.09.18 GENERAL ELECTRIC TECH GMBH
  • EP3098386B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3098386B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3098386B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An article (100) and method of forming an article (100) are provided. The article (100) includes a body portion (201) separating an inner region (203) and an outer region (205), an aperture (101) in the body portion (201), the aperture (101) fluidly connecting the inner region (203) to the outer region (205), and a conduit (103) extending from an outer surface (206) of the body portion (201) at the aperture (101) and being arranged and disposed to controllably direct fluid from the inner region (203) to the outer region (205). The method includes providing a body portion (201) separating an inner region (203) and an outer region (205), providing an aperture (101) in the body portion (201), and forming a conduit (103) over the aperture (101), the conduit (103) extending from an outer surface (206) of the body portion (201) and being arranged and disposed to controllably direct fluid from the inner region (203) to the outer region (205). The article (100) is arranged and disposed for insertion within a hot gas path component (400).