Turbine Blade Cooling Channel Layout for Balanced Outer-Span Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing turbine blade designs suffer from inefficient cooling, particularly in the trailing edge and radially outer regions, and conventional manufacturing methods are complex due to the need for multiple core extensions in serpentine cooling channels.
Innovation Solution
A turbine blade design with a simplified cooling channel arrangement using a single core extension in the radially outer region, combined with U-shaped deflection sections and turbulators, and film cooling holes for balanced cooling, along with a manufacturing process that stabilizes the mold core using a single extension.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a serpentine cooling channel design with multiple core extensions is used, then the cooling channel can be formed, but the manufacturing process becomes complex and core extensions interfere with each other in the outer area
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates one of the two core extensions from the mold assembly by reconfiguring the cooling channel path. The serpentine channel is modified to allow the cooling fluid to turn back within the blade structure itself, removing the need for the second core extension in the radially outer region and simplifying the manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention inverts the conventional serpentine channel configuration by changing the direction and location of the channel turns. Instead of requiring two separate core extensions to define parallel channel sections, the channel is designed to reverse direction within the blade airfoil structure, using the blade geometry itself to guide the cooling fluid back toward the leading edge.
2Temperature
If conventional serpentine cooling channels are used, then cooling is provided, but the cooling is unbalanced with less effective cooling at the trailing edge and radially outer regions
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by varying the cooling channel configuration in different regions of the blade. The channel cross-sectional area, curvature radius, and flow path length are specifically optimized for each blade region (leading edge, middle section, trailing edge, radially outer regions) to ensure uniform cooling distribution, with particular attention to enhancing cooling in previously under-cooled areas.
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
Achieves balanced cooling across the blade, especially in the upstream and downstream flanks and radially outer regions, with improved efficiency and simplified manufacturing through a single core extension, ensuring continuous cooling fluid flow and uniform heat transfer.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling channel arrangement (4) is formed with at least one cooling channel (40, 42, 44), in which a cooling fluid flows during cooling operation
Implementation Method 2
ensuring continuous cooling fluid flow and uniform heat transfer
Implementation Method 3
U-shaped deflection sections and turbulators
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a turbine blade (1), in particular for a gas turbine engine, with a blade (12) having a pressure-side wall section (10) and a suction-side wall section (11), extending radially and axially from an upstream flank (15) to an outstream flank (16) with respect to an installation state, in which a cooling channel arrangement (4) is formed with at least one cooling channel, which has an upstream channel section (40) extending at least predominantly radially near the upstream flank, an outstream channel section (42) extending at least predominantly radially near the outstream flank and an inner channel section (45) located between these, which is directed at least predominantly radially, as well as a first and second deflection section (41, 43) connecting these channel sections.Efficient cooling is achieved by arranging the inner channel section (44) downstream of the upstream channel section (40) and the downstream channel section (42).