Turbine Blade Cooling Hole Side Wall Angle Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooling hole designs in gas turbine engine turbine blades often result in inefficient cooling due to their orientation and geometry, particularly as they tend to be long and connect to the trailing edge at a steep angle, which can lead to suboptimal flow distribution and cooling effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

The design of a cooling hole that extends from a pocket underneath the platform to the side wall at a controlled angle, typically between 5 and 30 degrees, ensuring reliable air supply to the side wall and trailing edge, with an elongated or oval shape at the ends to facilitate better flow distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If cooling holes are designed to be long and connect to the trailing edge at a steep angle, then the cooling coverage area is increased, but the flow distribution becomes suboptimal and cooling effectiveness decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling coverage areaVSAvoidcooling effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the geometric parameters of the cooling hole, specifically the angle relative to the side wall (5-30 degrees) and the cross-sectional shape (elongated or oval), to optimize both flow distribution and cooling effectiveness simultaneously

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling hole cross-section is designed with non-circular elongated or oval geometry to create localized flow distribution patterns that match the thermal requirements of different regions of the side wall and trailing edge

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If cooling holes are oriented at steep angles to the trailing edge, then the structural integrity is maintained, but the airflow distribution to the side wall becomes inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidairflow distribution efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the orientation angle parameter of the cooling hole (5-30 degrees relative to the side wall) to achieve an optimal balance between structural integrity and airflow distribution efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 configuration enhances cooling efficiency by providing consistent airflow to the side and trailing edges of the turbine blade, improving heat management and reducing thermal stress on the blade.

Implementation Method 1

cooling air is supplied to a pocket formed on the pressure side of the turbine blade platform. The cooling air flows from the pocket through a cooling hole to a side wall of the turbine blade

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 2

providing consistent airflow to the side and trailing edges of the turbine blade, improving heat management and reducing thermal stress on the blade

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3896262B1Turbine blade cooling hole for side wall
Publication Date: 2023.12.20 RTX CORP
  • EP3896262B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3896262B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3896262B1 patent drawingFigure 2B~2C

AI summary

A turbine blade (102) includes an airfoil (106) including a pressure side (107) and a suction side (109). A platform (108) includes a pressure side wall (92) and a suction side wall (94), and has a leading edge end wall (88) and a trailing edge end wall (90). A pocket (108) is positioned under the platform (108) on the pressure side (107). A hole (128) has a first end (130) communicating with the pocket (108) and having a second end (132) communicating with the pressure side wall (92). A gas turbine engine (20) is also disclosed.