Gas Turbine Shroud Block Cooling Insert Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling systems for shroud block segments in gas turbines lack flexibility in modifying cooling flow patterns and quantities, limiting their effectiveness in managing thermal stresses and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a shroud block segment with a cooling plenum and exhaust passages, featuring a cooling flow insert or impingement plate with adjustable cooling passages that allow for flexible cooling flow management, enhancing convective cooling efficiency and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If cooling passages are machined and/or cast into the shroud block segment during production, then the cooling system is integrated into the component structure, but the ability to later modify the size, pattern and quantity of cooling passages is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is divided into separate modular components: cooling inserts that can be independently removed and replaced. Each insert contains specific cooling passages and can be swapped without affecting the main shroud block structure, enabling flexible modification of cooling patterns while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system transitions from a static, fixed configuration to a dynamic, adjustable system. Cooling inserts can be repositioned, removed, or replaced to adapt cooling passages to different operational requirements, allowing the system to evolve with changing thermal management needs.
2Manufacturing precision
If cooling passages are fixed during production, then manufacturing is simplified, but post-production modifications to cooling patterns and quantities become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Cooling passages are segmented into separate inserts that maintain precise machining during production but can be independently replaced. This allows high manufacturing precision to be achieved initially while preserving the ability to modify cooling patterns later by swapping inserts rather than re-machining the entire component.
Solution Approach 2:
Cooling inserts can be removed and replaced without damaging the main shroud block. Used inserts can be recovered, re-machined, or replaced with new inserts having different cooling configurations, enabling easy post-production modifications while maintaining manufacturing precision.
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 configuration provides improved cooling flexibility and efficiency, allowing for post-production modifications to cooling patterns and quantities, thereby enhancing the durability and performance of shroud block segments.
Implementation Method 1
The cooling channel is in thermal communication with the hot side portion, thereby allowing for heat transfer between the hot side portion and the cooling medium before the cooling medium is exhausted from the cooling channel
Implementation Method 2
The cooling medium is routed from the back side portion into a cooling channel that is defined within the shroud block segment via a plurality of cooling passages
Data Source
AI summary
A shroud block segment for a gas turbine includes a main body having a leading portion, a trailing portion, a first side portion and an opposing second side portion that extend axially between the leading portion and the trailing portion. The main body further includes an arcuate combustion gas side, an opposing back side and a cooling chamber defined in the back side. A cooling plenum and an exhaust passage are defined within the main body where the exhaust passage provides for fluid communication out of the cooling plenum. An insert opening extends within the main body through the back side towards the cooling plenum. A cooling flow insert is disposed within the insert opening. The cooling flow insert comprises a plurality of cooling flow passages that provide for fluid communication between the cooling chamber and the cooling plenum.