Toroidal Cooling Core for Gas Turbine Heat Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engine components, such as turbine rotor blades and stator vanes, face reduced service life due to heat exposure, and existing cooling systems are limited in effectively absorbing heat as they primarily direct air in two dimensions.
Innovation Solution
A core with toroidal structures oriented at non-zero degree angles is used to create a flow chamber that allows air to pass through in three dimensions, enhancing heat absorption by turbulating the air flow and increasing the heat transfer efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If air flow is directed in two dimensions through conventional cooling channels, then the cooling system is simple to manufacture, but the heat absorption efficiency is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from conventional two-dimensional cooling channels to three-dimensional toroidal cooling structures. The toroidal passages extend in multiple directions including axial, radial, and tangential components, creating a volumetric cooling path that significantly increases heat absorption efficiency while remaining manufacturable through established casting and machining processes
2Reliability
If toroidal structures with non-zero degree angles are used, then heat transfer efficiency increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs toroidal (doughnut-shaped) cooling passages with curved geometries instead of straight linear channels. These toroidal structures with non-zero degree angles create turbulent flow patterns and increase the surface area for heat transfer, significantly improving cooling efficiency. The curved geometry is integrated into the component during manufacturing, avoiding the need for complex assembly of multiple parts
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 toroidal structure design increases the heat transfer efficiency of cooling air, extending the service life of gas turbine engine components by effectively directing air flow in three dimensions and optimizing heat absorption.
Implementation Method 1
enhancing heat absorption by turbulating the air flow
Implementation Method 2
a flow of cooling air can pass through the component to absorb heat generated by the gas turbine engine
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A~2B
AI summary
A core (10A) includes a first end (12) and a second end (14) spaced generally opposite from the first end (12). The core further (10A) includes a stacking axis defined between the first (12) and second end (14) and a first toroidal structure (16A) located between the first (12) and the second end (14). The first toroidal structure (16A) includes a first passage (50A) extending through the first toroidal structure in a first direction that is perpendicular to and passes through the stacking axis. The core also includes a second toroidal structure (18A) located between the first toroidal structure (16A) and the second end (14). The second toroidal structure (18A) includes a second passage (52A) extending through the second toroidal structure (18A) in a second direction. The first direction and the second direction are oriented along the stacking axis at a non-zero degree angle with respect to each other.