Vane Flow Diverter for Gas Turbine Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cooling schemes for gas turbine engine components, such as static vanes and blades, face challenges in effectively managing heat and fluid flow to maintain efficiency and longevity, particularly in diverting flow exiting through a platform of a vane.
Innovation Solution
A flow diverter system comprising multiple sidewalls, endwalls, and an endcap, with sloped surfaces and strategically positioned outlets, redirects fluid flow from a channel into the platform cavity, providing impingement cooling and improving boundary conditions within the vane section.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a flow diverter is added to redirect fluid flow for improved cooling, then cooling efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow diverter is segmented into multiple functional components including sidewalls, endwalls, an endcap, and multiple outlets (first outlet as elongated slot, second outlet as cylindrical hole). This segmentation allows each component to perform specific flow control functions, improving cooling efficiency while maintaining manufacturability through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow diverter is positioned within the platform cavity of the vane section, nesting the cooling component inside the existing structural space. This nesting approach adds cooling functionality without significantly increasing the overall device envelope or structural complexity.
2Reliability
If multiple outlets are provided in the flow diverter for optimized flow distribution, then cooling performance is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different outlets are provided with different geometries and orientations tailored to specific local cooling requirements. The first outlet (elongated slot) and second outlet (cylindrical hole) are positioned and shaped to deliver cooling flow to different areas of the platform cavity, optimizing cooling performance locally while using standard manufacturing features.
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
Enhances cooling efficiency by redirecting fluid flow to improve heat management and reduce pressure loss, thereby extending the lifespan and performance of gas turbine engine components.
Implementation Method 1
redirects fluid flow from a channel into the platform cavity, providing impingement cooling
Data Source
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AI summary
A vane section (161) of a gas turbine engine (20) according to an example of the present disclosure includes a platform (163) and an airfoil (162) extending outwardly from the platform (163) and having an internal channel (186) communicating with an opening (188) in the platform (163). A rail (170, 172) extends inwardly from the platform (163), such that a surface of the platform (163) opposite the airfoil (162) and the rail (170, 172) at least partially define a platform cavity (178). A flow diverter (190) extends inwardly of the platform (163) within the platform cavity (178) and defines a diverter cavity (191), an inlet (192) configured to receive fluid (FI) flowing in a first direction from the opening (188) in the platform (163) to the diverter cavity (191), and an outlet (193) configured to expel fluid (FO) from the diverter cavity (191) to the platform cavity (178) in a second direction different from the first direction.