Turbine Blade Cooling Flow Path Rib Turbulators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Turbine blades experience deformation or breakdown due to increased surface temperature from combustion gases, necessitating effective cooling methods to prevent thermal fatigue.
Innovation Solution
The turbine incorporates a rotor with blades featuring a cooling flow path and a shroud, including rib turbulators and subsidiary protrusions that direct the cooling fluid to enhance heat absorption and reduce reattachment length, forming an elliptical flow and minimizing vortex size to improve cooling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cooling fluid is supplied into the blade, then the surface temperature of the blade is prevented from rising above design limit, but the cooling efficiency is insufficient due to long reattachment length and large vortex size
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling flow path is segmented by introducing rib turbulators and subsidiary protrusions that divide the cooling fluid flow into multiple streams. These structures create separate flow regions that independently cool different areas of the blade, improving overall cooling efficiency by preventing large-scale vortex formation and reducing reattachment length
Solution Approach 2:
Rib turbulators and subsidiary protrusions act as intermediary structures within the cooling flow path. These elements mediate the interaction between cooling fluid and blade surface by controlling flow separation and reattachment, thereby enhancing heat transfer efficiency without requiring increased cooling fluid supply
2Device complexity
If simple cooling flow path is used, then device complexity is low, but cooling efficiency is insufficient due to inadequate flow control
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling flow path incorporates rib turbulators and subsidiary protrusions at specific locations where flow separation occurs. These localized structures provide targeted flow control exactly where needed, improving cooling efficiency without requiring complex modifications throughout the entire cooling system
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling flow path transitions from a two-dimensional planar structure to a three-dimensional configuration by adding rib turbulators and subsidiary protrusions. This dimensional enhancement creates additional flow control surfaces that actively manage cooling fluid behavior, improving efficiency while maintaining relatively simple overall structure
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 effectively reduces the reattachment length of the cooling fluid, allowing it to frequently collide with the blade's inner surfaces, inhibiting temperature rise and extending the turbine's lifespan by rapid and efficient cooling of the blades.
Implementation Method 1
at least one rib turbulator protruding into the cooling flow path; and at least one subsidiary protrusion protruding from an outer surface of the at least one rib turbulator
Implementation Method 2
a cooling fluid may be supplied into the blade to prevent the surface temperature of the at least one blade from rising above a design limit during an operation of the turbine
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a turbine including a rotor; a blade provided on the rotor and comprising a cooling flow path through which a cooling fluid flows; and a shroud surrounding an exterior of the blade, wherein the blade includes: at least one rib turbulator protruding into the cooling flow path; and at least one subsidiary protrusion protruding from an outer surface of the at least one rib turbulator.