Blockage-Resistant Vane Impingement Tubes for Turbine Nozzles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Turbine nozzle vane impingement tubes in gas turbine engines are prone to blockages due to particulate matter deposition and aggregation, especially in debris-laden environments, which can lead to reduced cooling effectiveness and premature failure of the nozzle vanes.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of blockage deterrent features such as curved flow guidance structures, turbulator structures, and convergent nozzle geometries into the vane impingement tubes to minimize regions of flow stagnation and prevent particle deposition, including flow-turning features that direct airflow in an axial direction and turbulator structures that introduce turbulence to reduce particle aggregation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional straight impingement tubes are used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but particle deposition and aggregation occur in stagnant flow regions causing blockages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by replacing straight impingement tubes with curved flow guidance structures. The curved geometry eliminates stagnant flow regions where particles would deposit, while the curvature itself serves as the flow-turning mechanism. This resolves the contradiction by using geometric curvature to achieve blockage resistance without adding complex mechanical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the flow path within the impingement tube by introducing flow-turning features that divide the continuous flow into multiple directed streams. This segmentation prevents large stagnant regions and distributes particle-laden flow across different zones, reducing aggregation opportunities while maintaining a relatively simple overall tube structure.
2Productivity
If flow stagnation regions are present in impingement tubes, then the tube structure remains simple, but particle deposition occurs reducing cooling effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The curved flow guidance structures eliminate flow stagnation regions by continuously directing flow along curved paths. This prevents particle deposition that would otherwise occur in stagnant zones, maintaining cooling effectiveness. The curvature itself provides the flow control function without requiring additional active components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces periodic flow direction changes through the curved geometry and flow-turning features. This periodic redirection of flow prevents continuous stagnation at any single location, thereby preventing particle deposition while maintaining relatively simple tube structures.
3Reliability
If straight impingement tubes are used, then manufacturing is straightforward, but particle aggregation in stagnant regions leads to blockages
Solution Approach 1:
The curved flow guidance structures are designed with smooth continuous curves that, while more complex than straight tubes, can be manufactured using standard aerospace fabrication techniques. The curvature provides blockage prevention through flow dynamics rather than requiring complex internal mechanisms, balancing manufacturability with reliability.
4Duration of action of stationary object
If traditional impingement cooling is used without flow control features, then the system is simple, but particle deposition reduces service life of nozzle vanes
Solution Approach 1:
The curved flow guidance structures prevent particle deposition that would otherwise occur in stagnant flow regions, thereby extending the service life of the nozzle vanes. The curvature provides continuous flow motion that prevents particle aggregation, achieving prolonged component life with relatively simple geometric modifications to the impingement tubes.
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 implementation of these features reduces the likelihood of blockages, ensuring uninterrupted airflow and prolonged cooling effectiveness, thereby extending the service life of turbine nozzle vanes by preventing particle deposition and aggregation within the impingement tubes.
Implementation Method 1
The first flow-turning feature is shaped and positioned to turn the airflow received through the inlet in a substantially axial direction, which is perpendicular to the radial direction, prior to discharge through the impingement outlet
Implementation Method 2
The first turbulator structure is shaped and positioned to impart turbulence to the airflow conducted through the tube body and discharged through the impingement outlet
Implementation Method 3
the vane impingement tubes direct cooling jets against interior surfaces of the leading turbine nozzle vane regions to convectively remove heat from the nozzle vanes and provide the desired impingement cooling effect
Implementation Method 4
Additional heat may also be convectively transferred to the cooling airflow as the air flows along the interior surfaces of the turbine nozzle vane, as well as conductively transferred to the vane impingement tubes via contact with ribs or other internal structures of the turbine nozzle vanes
Data Source
AI summary
Vane impingement tubes having blockage deterrent features are provided, as turbine nozzles containing blockage-resistant vane impingement tubes. In an embodiment, the turbine nozzle includes inner and outer annular endwalls, and turbine nozzle vanes arranged in an annular array between the outer and inner annular endwalls. Vane impingement tubes are inserted into the turbine nozzle vanes. The vane impingement tubes each includes a tube body, an impingement outlet formed in the tube body and configured to discharge airflow for impingement against one of the turbine nozzle vanes, a first flow-turning feature located in the tube body, and an inlet formed in the tube body and configured receive cooling airflow in a substantially radial direction. The first flow-turning feature is shaped and positioned to turn the airflow received through the inlet in a substantially axial direction, which is perpendicular to the radial direction, prior to discharge through the impingement outlet.