Turbine Cooling Passage Redirection via Cross-Sectional Area Alteration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Turbine system components face challenges with localized hot spots and cold spots due to thermal loading and operational parameters, leading to repeatable damage modes and increased repair costs. Existing methods for reallocating cooling airflow are time-consuming and prone to poor quality outcomes.
Innovation Solution
The method involves identifying hot and cold spots on the turbine system component's exterior surface based on thermal profiles and reconfiguring the cooling passages to redirect coolant from cool spots to hot spots by altering the cross-sectional area of the cooling passages, typically by inserting a hollow member to reduce the exit opening size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the exit opening size of cooling passages is adjusted to reallocate cooling airflow, then the cooling distribution uniformity is improved, but the manufacturing time and quality increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by embedding the hollow member (such as a rod or plug) into the cooling passage during the original component manufacturing process, before the component is put into service. This allows the cooling passage cross-sectional area to be pre-adjusted to the desired value during manufacturing, eliminating the need for time-consuming post-manufacturing operations to fill and re-open exit openings. The hollow member is inserted and secured (e.g., by welding, brazing, or interference fit) while the component is being produced, so that when the component is assembled into the turbine system, the cooling airflow is already properly allocated.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the exit opening size of cooling passages is adjusted to reallocate cooling airflow, then the cooling distribution uniformity is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and quality outcomes worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The hollow member is inserted and secured during the original component manufacturing process using standard manufacturing techniques such as welding, brazing, or interference fit. This integrates the cooling passage modification into the normal manufacturing workflow, allowing quality control measures to be applied during the original manufacturing process rather than requiring separate, complex post-processing operations. The hollow member's dimensions and positioning can be precisely controlled during manufacturing, ensuring consistent cooling airflow allocation across production batches.
3Use of energy by moving object
If cooling passages are reconfigured to redirect coolant from cool spots to hot spots, then the coolant utilization efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by selectively adjusting the cross-sectional area of specific cooling passages based on the thermal conditions at different locations on the component surface. Thermal mapping or thermal modeling is used to identify hot spots (areas requiring more cooling) and cold spots (areas with excess cooling capacity). Hollow members are then inserted only into the cooling passages associated with cold spots, reducing their cross-sectional area and redirecting coolant flow to hot spots. This localized modification approach allows the system to maintain simple, passive cooling passage structures while achieving improved coolant utilization efficiency, as each cooling passage is tailored to its specific thermal environment without requiring complex active control systems.
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 approach allows for more efficient use of coolant by redirecting excess cooling capacity from cool spots to hot spots, reducing damage modes and repair costs, while also improving the overall cooling efficiency of the turbine system component.
Implementation Method 1
reconfiguring a plurality of cooling passages to direct a portion of a coolant from the cool spot to the hot spot
Implementation Method 2
altering a cross-sectional area of a cool spot cooling passage in the cool spot to have a second cross-sectional area that is smaller than the first cross-sectional area
Data Source
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AI summary
A method (300) for redirection of coolant flow is provided. The method (300) includes an identifying step that identifies a hot spot on an exterior surface (212) of a body (210) of a component (200) of a turbine system (200). A first parameter of the component (200) indicates that a temperature of the exterior surface (212) in the hot spot exceeds a threshold value. Another identifying step identifies a cool spot on the exterior surface (212). A second parameter of the component (200) indicates that the temperature of the exterior surface (212) in the cool spot is below the threshold value. A reconfiguring step reconfigures a plurality of cooling passages (202) of the component (200) to direct a portion of a coolant from the cool spot to the hot spot.