Tortuous Cooling Passageways for Gas Turbine Blade Outer Air Seals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional blade outer air seals (BOAS) in gas turbine engines face inefficiencies in cooling due to the limited design of parallel cooling passageways, which restricts effective heat management and sealing performance.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of three-dimensional spiral, Z-shaped, M-shaped, divergent, U-shaped, and angled cooling passageways with trip strips or pedestals, which provide a more extensive cooling area within a compact space, enhancing heat dissipation and sealing efficiency by directing cooling airflow in multiple directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If parallel cooling passageways are used in conventional BOAS, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the cooling efficiency is limited and the effective cooling area is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from conventional two-dimensional parallel cooling passageways to three-dimensional tortuous cooling passageways that extend in multiple directions (axial, radial, and circumferential). This dimensional change allows the cooling fluid to access more surface area of the BOAS, significantly increasing the effective cooling area while maintaining manufacturability through standard casting processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling passageways are designed with tortuous, curved paths rather than straight parallel channels. The serpentine and spiral configurations increase the path length and surface contact area of the cooling fluid, enhancing heat transfer efficiency without requiring a larger component volume.
2Productivity
If the axial length of the turbine section is reduced to enhance power density, then the compactness and power density improve, but the cooling coverage and sealing performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
By introducing radial and circumferential cooling components in addition to axial passages, the patent achieves comprehensive cooling coverage within a shortened axial length. The three-dimensional passageway network allows cooling fluid to reach all critical surfaces of the BOAS, maintaining sealing performance despite reduced axial dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The tortuous cooling passageways serve multiple functions simultaneously: they cool the BOAS surfaces, provide sealing between turbine stages, and manage thermal stresses. This multi-functionality allows the component to maintain reliable performance in a more compact configuration.
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 design significantly improves cooling efficiency and sealing performance by increasing the effective cooling area, reducing the axial length of the turbine section, and enhancing power density while maintaining compactness.
Implementation Method 1
cooling passageways configured to route a flow of cooling fluid therein
Implementation Method 2
route a flow of cooling fluid therein
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
One exemplary embodiment of this disclosure relates to a gas turbine engine including a component having a body. The body includes a tortuous cooling passageway, which provides a flow path extending between an inlet in a first surface of the body and an exit in a second surface of the body.