Gas Turbine Nozzle Cooling via Impingement Plate
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high cost of forming apertures in the inner side walls of gas turbine engines for cooling purposes increases the overall expense of the engine, as existing systems require expensive manufacturing processes.
Innovation Solution
A nozzle cooling system that incorporates an impingement plate and duct plate to direct compressed air through impingement and post-impingement apertures, cooling the inner side wall without the need for apertures in the inner side wall, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If apertures are formed in the inner side wall for cooling air to exit, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
An impingement plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the cooling air supply system and the inner side wall. This plate directs cooling air onto the inner side wall surface without requiring apertures to be formed in the inner side wall itself, thereby achieving effective cooling while avoiding the high manufacturing costs associated with aperture formation in the inner side wall.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling function is replicated through the impingement plate structure rather than directly through the inner side wall. The impingement plate serves as a separate cooling element that can be manufactured independently and installed without modifying the inner side wall, thus copying the cooling function while eliminating the need for expensive aperture formation in the original wall structure.
2Temperature
If cooling air is directed onto the radially inner surface, then heat management is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The impingement plate is integrated with the existing nozzle structure, combining the cooling function with the structural components already present in the turbine nozzle. The plate works in conjunction with the inner side wall and airfoil to provide cooling without requiring a completely separate cooling system, thereby improving heat management while limiting the increase in overall 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
The system effectively cools the inner side wall of the nozzle without the need for costly aperture formation in the inner side wall, reducing the overall cost of the gas turbine engine while maintaining efficient heat management.
Implementation Method 1
Compressed air from the outer chamber flows through the one or more impingement apertures into the inner chamber and exits the inner chamber through the one or more post-impingement apertures
Implementation Method 2
Compressed air from the outer chamber flows through the one or more impingement apertures into the inner chamber
Implementation Method 3
The impingement plate and the inner side wall collectively define an inner chamber. The duct plate, the first portion of the impingement plate, and inner side wall collectively define an outer chamber in fluid communication with the inner chamber
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to a nozzle cooling system (100) for a gas turbine engine (10). An impingement plate (102) is positioned radially inwardly from a radially inner surface (54) of an inner side wall (46) of a nozzle (32A, 32B, 32C). The impingement plate (102) and the inner side wall (46) collectively define an inner chamber (108). The impingement plate (102) includes a first portion (130) defining one or more impingement apertures (104) and a second portion (132) defining one or more post-impingement apertures (106). A duct plate (110) encloses the first portion (130) of the impingement plate (102). The duct plate (110), the first portion (130) of the impingement plate (102), and inner side wall (46) collectively define an outer chamber (112) in fluid communication with the inner chamber (108) through the one or more impingement apertures (104). Compressed air (38) from the outer chamber (112) flows through the one or more impingement apertures (104) into the inner chamber (108) and exits the inner chamber (108) through the one or more post-impingement apertures (106).