Turbine Guide Vane Throttle Element for Coolant Flow Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing turbine guide vanes with aerodynamically curved vane airfoils face challenges in efficiently throttling and removing coolant, especially when an opening is present at the point of reversal, leading to excessive cooling air consumption and potential hot gas penetration through gaps.

Innovation Solution

A throttle element with inflow and outflow openings, connected by a channel, is integrated into the turbine guide vane to divert coolant into two separate streams, allowing for throttling and coolant removal, which also blocks hot gas penetration by directing coolant to adjacent components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a throttle element is added to an existing turbine guide vane with an opening at the point of reversal, then coolant removal and hot gas prevention are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehot gas preventionVSAvoidthrottle element structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The throttle element is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it throttles coolant flow, removes coolant from the vane, and prevents hot gas penetration through gaps. By integrating these functions into a single component, the patent avoids the need for separate elements for each function, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving improved reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the throttle element with the existing opening structure at the point of reversal. Instead of adding a completely separate cooling system, the throttle element is integrated into the existing coolant flow path, merging the throttling function with the coolant removal function and the hot gas prevention function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If coolant flow is increased to prevent hot gas penetration, then component protection is improved, but cooling air consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent protectionVSAvoidcooling air consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The throttle element provides adjustable coolant flow control, allowing the system to dynamically optimize coolant distribution. By regulating the amount of coolant sent to adjacent components, the system can prevent hot gas penetration while minimizing excessive cooling air consumption, adapting to different operating conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies coolant locally to specific areas where hot gas penetration is a risk - namely the gaps between the turbine guide vane and adjacent components. Instead of uniformly increasing coolant flow throughout the entire vane, the throttle element directs coolant precisely where it is needed for protection, reducing overall cooling air consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If a throttle element is retrofitted to existing turbine guide vanes, then adaptability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveretrofit capabilityVSAvoidretrofit process

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The throttle element is designed as a separate, modular component that can be retrofitted to existing turbine guide vanes without requiring modification of the vane itself. This segmentation allows the throttle element to be manufactured independently and then installed as an add-on, improving adaptability to different vane designs while simplifying the retrofit process compared to requiring complex modifications to the original vane structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 enables efficient coolant distribution and hot gas prevention, prolonging the service life of gas turbine components by allowing for adjustable coolant flow and retrofittable implementation without modifying existing vanes, improving gas turbine efficiency and reducing component rejection rates.

Implementation Method 1

the throttle element should be designed in such a way that it also allows the removal of coolant. Consequently, it should be equipped with an inflow opening, an outflow opening and a channel connecting the two openings

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Implementation Method 2

The first of the two partial streams of coolant flows further within the turbine guide vane and is used for cooling the vane airfoil and the trailing edge thereof

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer:

Implementation Method 3

By providing the coolant at these gas turbine components, the gaps concerned are blocked by coolant flowing out, so that the penetration of hot gas can be avoided with certainty

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid barrier:

Data Source

PatentUS9856738B2Turbine guide vane with a throttle element

Publication Date: 2018.01.02 SIEMENS ENERGY GLOBAL GMBH & CO KG

AI summary

A turbine guide vane having an aerodynamically bent vane airfoil with a channel system equipped with a throttle element is provided herein. The channel system includes channel sections for the guidance of coolant. In order to provide an alternative turbine guide vane by means of which both a partial coolant flow flowing in the interior and a partial coolant flow guided out of the turbine guide vane are adjustable; therefore, in an embodiment, the throttle element is designed for the removal of coolant.