Turbine Adaptive Cooling Pathways for Hotspot Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine components face inefficiencies due to overcooling to compensate for localized hotspots, which can lead to reduced engine output and efficiency, as well as increased stress and oxidation, necessitating improved cooling designs that minimize cooling air usage while extending component lifetime.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating adaptive cooling pathways filled with a high-temperature compound that oxidizes and changes volume at a predetermined temperature, allowing a supplemental cooling flow only when needed to address hotspots, thereby reducing cooling medium usage and enhancing component durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If overcooling is applied to compensate for localized hotspots, then component reliability is improved, but gas turbine efficiency and output deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing selective cooling pathways that deliver cooling air specifically to localized hotspot areas rather than uniformly cooling the entire component. This allows reliable protection of critical regions while minimizing unnecessary cooling elsewhere, thus preserving gas turbine efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic cooling control where cooling pathways are activated or deactivated based on real-time temperature conditions and operational parameters. This dynamic adjustment enables the system to provide cooling only when and where needed, optimizing the balance between component reliability and energy efficiency.
2Temperature
If cooling air flow is increased to address hotspots, then component temperature is reduced, but cooling medium consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cooling system into multiple independent pathways, each targeting specific hotspot regions. This segmentation allows precise delivery of cooling air only to areas requiring temperature control, significantly reducing overall cooling medium consumption compared to blanket cooling approaches.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial cooling action by activating only the necessary cooling pathways based on actual thermal conditions. Rather than applying full cooling capacity continuously, the system applies cooling partially and selectively, minimizing cooling air usage while maintaining acceptable temperature levels.
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 solution allows for adaptive cooling that mitigates hotspot effects, reduces cooling medium consumption, and extends component lifetime by providing targeted cooling only when necessary, thereby improving gas turbine efficiency and output.
Implementation Method 1
oxidizing a high temperature compound in one or more adaptive cooling pathways once a local predetermined temperature is reached
Implementation Method 2
flowing a coolant through an internal cooling circuit, flowing the coolant through a number of cooling pathways in an outer surface
Data Source
AI summary
The present application provides a turbine component for use in a hot gas path of a gas turbine. The turbine component may include an outer surface, an internal cooling circuit, a number of cooling pathways in communication with the internal cooling circuit and extending through the outer surface, and a number of adaptive cooling pathways in communication with the internal cooling circuit and extending through the outer surface. The adaptive cooling pathways may include a high temperature compound therein.