Vane Platform Leading Edge Pocket Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engine components, particularly vane assemblies, face high temperatures due to exhaust from combustor sections, leading to potential degradation and reduced lifespan, necessitating effective cooling solutions.
Innovation Solution
A platform design for gas turbine engines featuring a leading edge with a radially outer surface defining a pocket for receiving cooling airflow, enclosed by a cover with air inlet and exit holes, and incorporating recessed shelves and cooling features like raised bars to enhance heat rejection, which increases the surface area and turbulence for improved heat transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cooling airflow is introduced to reduce leading edge temperature, then temperature control improves, but device complexity increases due to additional cooling structures
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into distinct functional components: a pocket structure for housing cooling elements, a cover with integrated inlet and outlet holes, and internal cooling features (raised bars or ribs). This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while working together to achieve effective cooling of the leading edge.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling approach transitions from a two-dimensional surface cooling concept to a three-dimensional volumetric cooling system. The pocket creates a volumetric space that contains cooling features (raised bars/ribs) that extend into the pocket, enabling multi-dimensional heat transfer pathways and more effective thermal management of the leading edge.
2Loss of energy
If cooling features like raised bars are added to increase surface area, then heat rejection improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Cooling features (raised bars or ribs) are placed locally within the pocket at strategic positions to maximize heat rejection efficiency. These localized features create turbulence and increase surface area specifically where thermal management is most critical, rather than uniformly complicating the entire platform structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling features create a porous-like structure with raised bars or ribs that increase surface area and promote turbulence in the cooling airflow. This porous arrangement enhances convective heat transfer by creating multiple flow paths and increasing the effective heat exchange surface area within the confined pocket space.
3Reliability
If a cover is added to enclose the pocket, then cooling effectiveness improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is merged with the platform structure, forming an integrated component rather than a separate attachment. The cover defines both inlet and outlet holes and encloses the pocket, combining multiple functions (structural support, flow distribution, and thermal management) into a single integrated element that reduces overall assembly complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support to the platform, defines the inlet and outlet openings for cooling airflow, encloses the pocket to contain cooling features, and acts as a flow distribution element. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components.
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 effectively reduces the operating temperature of the leading edge by circulating cooling airflow, enhancing heat rejection and extending the lifespan of vane assembly components through increased convective heat transfer.
Implementation Method 1
The platform effectively reduces the operating temperature of the leading edge by circulating cooling airflow, enhancing heat rejection and extending the lifespan of vane assembly components through increased convective heat transfer.
Implementation Method 2
a pocket portion of the radially outer surface that is located within the pocket defines cooling features to increase a surface area of the pocket portion and to augment turbulence in a near wall region in order to increase heat rejection by the radially outer surface.
Data Source
AI summary
A platform for an airfoil of a gas turbine engine having an axis extending from a front of the gas turbine engine to a rear of the gas turbine engine. The platform includes a leading edge configured to face towards the front of the gas turbine engine. The platform further includes a trailing edge opposite the leading edge. The platform further includes a radially outer surface that defines a pocket for receiving a cooling airflow. The platform further includes a cover coupled to the radially outer surface to at least partially enclose the pocket and defining a plurality of air inlet holes configured to port at least a portion of the cooling airflow into the pocket.