Gas Turbine Platform Cooling Passage Suction Side Outlet

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooling passages in gas turbine components often inefficiently manage heat transfer and stress due to their conventional design, with outlets typically located on the pressure side, which limits effective cooling of the platform and can lead to increased heat pickup and reduced component lifespan.

Innovation Solution

The cooling passage is reconfigured to have its outlet on the suction side of the platform, with a bulged intermediate portion and various internal structures like pin fins and ribbed surfaces to enhance heat transfer, and can be formed using refractory metals or ceramics, allowing for improved heat management and stress distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the cooling passage outlet is located on the pressure side of the platform, then the cooling passage structure is simple, but the heat transfer efficiency is reduced and heat pickup increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling passage structure simplicityVSAvoidheat pickup

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional location of the cooling passage outlet from the pressure side to the suction side of the platform. This inversion allows the cooling air to exit on the suction side where it can more effectively cool the platform surface, thereby reducing heat pickup while still maintaining a relatively simple passage structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a bulged intermediate portion in the cooling passage that extends into the passage volume, creating a three-dimensional heat transfer enhancement feature. This dimensional addition increases the surface area for heat exchange without significantly complicating the overall passage layout, improving heat transfer efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Device complexity

If conventional cooling passage design is used, then the device complexity is low, but the cooling effectiveness is reduced leading to reduced component lifespan

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling passage design complexityVSAvoidcomponent lifespan

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality enhancement by adding specific features (bulged intermediate portion, pin fins, ribbed surfaces) at critical locations within the cooling passage. These localized modifications improve heat transfer effectiveness in key areas without requiring a complete redesign of the entire cooling system, thus maintaining relatively low device complexity while extending component lifespan.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent specifies that the cooling passage may be formed using refractory metals or ceramics, which are composite or advanced materials capable of withstanding extreme thermal environments. These materials provide both structural integrity and thermal management properties, enhancing reliability without significantly increasing design complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Temperature

If the cooling passage has a bulged intermediate portion and internal structures, then the heat transfer efficiency is enhanced, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat transfer efficiencyVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple heat transfer enhancement features (bulged intermediate portion, pin fins, ribbed surfaces) into a single integrated cooling passage structure. This merging approach allows all features to be manufactured as one component, potentially through additive manufacturing or specialized casting processes, thereby reducing the number of separate parts and assembly steps despite the increased geometric complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 heat transfer efficiency, reduces heat pickup, and extends the lifespan of rotor and seal components by effectively redirecting cooling air flow and increasing the cooling surface area, thereby improving the overall performance and durability of gas turbine engine components.

Implementation Method 1

This configuration enhances heat transfer efficiency, reduces heat pickup

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

various internal structures like pin fins and ribbed surfaces to enhance heat transfer, and can be formed using refractory metals or ceramics, allowing for improved heat management

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer enhancement: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP2325439B1Gas turbine engine component

Publication Date: 2018.02.28 UNITED TECH CORP

Figure 1~4
Figure 2~3
Figure 5~6B

AI summary

A gas turbine engine component (24) has a platform (28) and an airfoil (30) extending from the platform (28). The platform (28) has a pressure side (30) and a suction side (50). A cooling passage (34) is formed within the platform (28), and extends along the pressure side (32) of the platform (28). Air leaves the passage through an air outlet (40) on the suction side (50) of the platform (28).