Turbine Vane Baffle Channels for Inner Diameter Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing turbine vane configurations in gas turbine engines face challenges in effectively managing high temperatures and cooling efficiency, particularly at the inner diameter portion of the vanes, leading to potential overheating and reduced performance.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a vane body with a baffle and axial divider ribs, forming cooling passages, feed cavities, and axial flow channels, which utilize pressurized air from the compressor section to enhance cooling by directing air through multiple pathways, including internal baffle cavities and axial flow channels, with features to promote turbulence for improved heat transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional turbine vane configurations are used, then the structure is simpler, but cooling effectiveness at the inner diameter portion is insufficient leading to overheating
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling passage is segmented into multiple sections by dividing ribs that extend axially from the trailing edge toward the leading edge. These ribs create separate cooling channels that distribute cooling air to different regions of the vane, particularly enhancing cooling at the inner diameter portion where overheating occurs. The segmentation allows targeted temperature control in critical areas without requiring complete redesign of the entire vane structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The vane structure incorporates localized features including a baffle positioned at the inner diameter portion, axial divider ribs concentrated in specific regions, and selectively placed cooling holes. These local modifications concentrate cooling resources where thermal loads are highest, improving cooling effectiveness at critical locations without uniformly increasing complexity across the entire vane.
2Reliability
If cooling air is extracted from the compressor section, then cooling effectiveness improves, but the available cooling air quantity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system transitions from two-dimensional planar cooling passages to three-dimensional volumetric cooling structures. The baffle creates an internal cavity that adds a third dimension to the cooling air distribution, allowing cooling air to circulate through volumetric spaces rather than just surface-level passages. This increases the effective cooling air quantity by utilizing the full three-dimensional space within the vane structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Cooling air is introduced into the feed cavity and baffle cavity before reaching the critical high-temperature regions. The axial divider ribs and baffle pre-distribute and pre-condition the cooling air, ensuring that when the air reaches the inner diameter portion and trailing edge, it is already positioned and prepared to provide maximum cooling effectiveness. This preliminary distribution optimizes the use of limited cooling air quantity.
3Reliability
If the baffle and axial divider ribs are added to form multiple cooling passages, then cooling effectiveness improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The baffle, axial divider ribs, and cooling holes are integrated into a unified cooling system where components work together as a single functional unit. The dividing ribs serve dual purposes by both separating cooling passages and providing structural support. The baffle simultaneously creates the internal cavity and directs cooling airflow. This merging reduces the number of separate manufacturing steps compared to assembling multiple independent components.
Solution Approach 2:
The axial divider ribs perform multiple functions: they divide cooling passages, provide structural reinforcement to the vane, and serve as flow guides for cooling air. The baffle simultaneously creates the internal cavity, directs cooling airflow to critical regions, and provides structural support at the inner diameter portion. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components, simplifying manufacturing.
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 effectiveness, particularly at the inner diameter portion of the vanes, reducing metal temperatures and improving the overall durability and performance of the turbine vanes under high-temperature conditions.
Implementation Method 1
pressurized air from the compressor section to enhance cooling by directing air through multiple pathways
Implementation Method 2
with features to promote turbulence for improved heat transfer
Data Source
AI summary
A turbine vane includes a vane body, a baffle, and a plurality of axial divider ribs. The vane body includes a first side wall, a second side wall, and a trailing edge rib forming a cooling passage. The baffle includes a baffle body disposed within the cooling passage. The baffle body includes a first baffle side and a second baffle side. The baffle body forms an internal baffle cavity. The baffle body further forms a plurality of baffle apertures. Each axial divider rib extends between and to the second side wall and the second baffle side. The vane body, the baffle body, and the axial divider ribs form a feed cavity and one or more axial flow channels. The feed cavity is disposed between the vane body and the baffle body at least between the first side wall and the first baffle side. The axial flow channels are formed by the axial divider ribs. Each axial flow channel o is connected in fluid communication with the internal baffle cavity by one or more of the baffle apertures.