Gas Turbine Platform Cooling Circuit with Segmented Cavities

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Solution Overview

Problem

Gas turbine engine components, such as turbine blades and vanes, face challenges in withstanding high temperatures due to the lack of effective cooling methods, leading to potential damage from thermal cycling and extreme operating conditions.

Innovation Solution

A platform cooling circuit is introduced, featuring a serpentine cavity and impingement cavity with a cover plate, allowing for the circulation of cooling airflow through core cavities to effectively transfer thermal energy and cool the components, including the use of augmentation features like pins or trip strips for enhanced heat transfer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If cooling airflow is circulated through the platform, then thermal stress is reduced and component durability is enhanced, but device complexity increases due to the need for cooling circuits and cavities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent durabilityVSAvoidcooling circuit structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The platform is divided into multiple core cavities (first core cavity, second core cavity) that are separated and can be independently cooled. Each cavity receives cooling airflow through distinct pathways, allowing independent temperature control and cooling optimization for different regions of the platform.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling circuit is nested within the platform structure itself, with cavities formed inside the platform material. The serpentine cavity is embedded within the platform, and the cover plate is positioned to cover these cavities, creating a compact integrated structure where the cooling system is contained within the component being cooled.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Use of energy by moving object

If a serpentine cavity configuration is used, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat transfer efficiencyVSAvoidcavity fabrication

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The serpentine cavity configuration changes the geometric parameters of the cooling pathway, creating a longer, winding path through the platform thickness. This increased path length and altered geometry improve heat transfer efficiency by increasing the surface area for heat exchange and enhancing convective cooling, while the configuration is designed to be manufacturable through appropriate fabrication processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Temperature

If multiple core cavities are used, then cooling coverage is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling coverageVSAvoidnumber of cavities

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The platform cooling is segmented into multiple discrete core cavities positioned at different locations and orientations. The first core cavity and second core cavity are separated and can be independently cooled, allowing targeted temperature control for specific high-heat regions while maintaining simpler individual cavity structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling circuit design with multiple cavities and a cover plate creates a multi-functional system that provides both structural support and thermal management. The cover plate serves to cover and protect the cavities while also facilitating airflow distribution, and the cavities themselves provide both structural integrity and cooling pathways.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

The platform cooling circuit effectively reduces thermal stress on components by circulating cooling airflow, enhancing their durability and operational efficiency by maintaining lower temperatures and improving heat transfer efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

circulating cooling airflow through core cavities to effectively transfer thermal energy

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 2

transfer thermal energy and cool the components

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

impingement cavity with a cover plate, allowing for the circulation of cooling airflow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImpingement cooling:

Data Source

PatentUS10502075B2Platform cooling circuit for a gas turbine engine component

Publication Date: 2019.12.10 RTX CORP

AI summary

A component for a gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a platform having a first path side and a second path side and a platform cooling circuit disposed on one of the first path side and the second path side of the platform. The platform cooling circuit includes a first core cavity, a cavity in fluid communication with the first core cavity, and a cover plate positioned to cover at least the cavity.