Segmented Cooling Circuits for Turbine Shroud Strength
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Solution Overview
Problem
Turbine shrouds in turbomachines, such as gas turbine systems, weaken due to stress from rotational forces and extended exposure to high temperatures, necessitating efficient cooling to extend component life.
Innovation Solution
A turbine shroud with a cooling circuit including an inlet passage, outlet passage, and a plenum system within a structural member, utilizing impingement panels and hooks for efficient heat dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If turbine shrouds are exposed to high temperatures for extended periods, then operational efficiency is maintained, but the shrouds weaken due to thermal stress and rotational forces
Solution Approach 1:
The shroud is divided into multiple segments with individual cooling circuits, allowing each segment to be cooled independently. This segmentation enables targeted cooling of high-stress areas while maintaining overall structural integrity under thermal exposure
Solution Approach 2:
A cooling fluid (air or gas) is introduced as an intermediary substance that absorbs heat from the shroud structure through inlet passages and cooling channels, preventing direct thermal damage to the structural material and maintaining strength during high-temperature operation
2Duration of action of stationary object
If cooling circuits are added to turbine shrouds, then component life is extended, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple cooling circuits are merged into a single integrated cooling system with common inlet and outlet passages. This consolidation extends component life through comprehensive cooling while reducing overall system complexity by eliminating redundant separate circuit components
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling circuit serves multiple functions simultaneously: it cools the shroud structure, removes thermal stress, and extends component life. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by delivering multiple benefits from a single system addition
3Productivity
If tip shrouds are used on rotating blades, then operational efficiency is improved, but the shrouds are subject to increased stress from rotational forces
Solution Approach 1:
Cooling fluid is introduced through inlet passages before the shroud reaches critical temperature and stress levels. This preliminary cooling action prevents thermal-structural degradation that would otherwise accelerate under rotational stress, maintaining the efficiency benefits of tip shrouds
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal parameters of the shroud are actively changed through cooling fluid circulation, maintaining optimal temperature ranges that preserve material properties. This parameter control allows the shroud to withstand rotational stresses while maintaining the operational efficiency improvements provided by tip shroud design
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 cooling circuit effectively dissipates heat, enhancing the structural integrity and longevity of turbine shrouds by maintaining their mechanical properties under high-temperature conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling circuit within the body and in fluid communication with a cooling chamber defined radially outward of the body
Implementation Method 2
The cooling circuit effectively dissipates heat, enhancing the structural integrity and longevity of turbine shrouds
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a turbine shroud with a cooling circuit and turbomachine with the subject turbine shroud. The turbine shroud includes a body with a structural member thereon. The body is coupled to a turbomachine casing or an intermediate component for coupling the body to the turbomachine casing. A cooling circuit within the body is in fluid communication with a cooling chamber adjacent the body. The cooling circuit includes an inlet passage extending through the structural member of the body, and an outlet passage fluidly coupled to the inlet passage and extending through an external surface of the body.