Turbine Vane Dust Tolerant Cooling System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engines face challenges in cooling the leading edges of turbine vanes due to high temperatures and the accumulation of fine sand and dust particles, which can lead to oxidation and reduced component life, increasing repair costs and downtime.
Innovation Solution
A dust-tolerant cooling system for turbine vanes is implemented, featuring a conduit system with cooling features such as pins and fillets that extend between surfaces to enhance convective heat transfer and reduce particle accumulation, while also incorporating platforms for fluid communication and flow management to efficiently cool both the leading and trailing edges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional cooling circuits are used in turbine airfoils, then cooling capability is provided, but fine sand and dust particles accumulate in stagnation regions impeding cooling effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling circuit is segmented into multiple separate passages instead of a single continuous circuit. This segmentation prevents particle accumulation by eliminating stagnation regions where particles would otherwise settle, while maintaining effective cooling across the airfoil surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling passage design incorporates dynamic flow characteristics that prevent stagnation. The passages are configured to maintain continuous fluid motion throughout the entire cooling circuit, preventing particle deposition and ensuring reliable cooling operation in dusty environments.
2Productivity
If higher turbine inlet temperature is used to improve gas turbine engine efficiency, then engine efficiency improves, but oxidation risk of the leading edge increases
Solution Approach 1:
Cooling fluid is supplied to the leading edge cooling passages before the hot gas flow reaches the airfoil leading edge. This preliminary cooling action establishes a protective thermal barrier that prevents oxidation even when exposed to high temperature gases, enabling the turbine to operate at higher inlet temperatures for improved efficiency.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If cooling fluid flow is increased to improve leading edge cooling, then oxidation risk reduces, but particle accumulation in stagnation regions worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling circuit is divided into multiple separate passages that eliminate stagnation regions. This allows increased cooling fluid flow to be distributed effectively across all passages without creating new stagnation zones, thereby reducing oxidation risk while preventing particle accumulation.
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 system effectively reduces the risk of oxidation and particle accumulation, improving the life of turbine vane components by enhancing heat transfer and maintaining engine efficiency in dusty environments.
Implementation Method 1
A dust tolerant cooling system is defined in the airfoil including a first conduit in proximity to the leading edge to cool the leading edge and a second conduit to cool the trailing edge
Data Source
AI summary
A turbine vane includes an airfoil that extends from an inner diameter to an outer diameter, and from a leading edge to a trailing edge. The turbine vane includes an inner platform coupled to the airfoil at the inner diameter. The turbine vane includes a cooling system defined in the airfoil including a first conduit in proximity to the leading edge to cool the leading edge and a second conduit to cool the trailing edge. The first conduit has an inlet at the outer diameter to receive a cooling fluid and an outlet portion that is defined at least partially through the inner platform. The first conduit includes a plurality of cooling features that extend from a first surface of the first conduit, and the first surface of the first conduit is opposite the leading edge.