COMPONENTS WITH ASYMMETRIC COOLING CHANNELS AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE

• US 20140116660A1
• Filed: 10/31/2012
• Published: 05/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Butler, Jesse Blair, Bunker, Ronald Scott, Weaver, Scott Andrew, Kirtley, Kevin Richard
• Application Number:
  US13/664,458
• Publication Number:
  US 20140116660A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/133
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 5/187 Convection cooling
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 5/288 Protective coatings for blades
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/204 by the use of microcircuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft

Abstract

A method of fabricating a component is provided. The component includes a substrate having an outer surface and an inner surface, where the inner surface defines at least one interior space. The fabrication method includes forming at least one groove in the outer substrate surface. Each groove extends at least partially along the outer substrate surface and has an asymmetric cross-section. The method further includes forming at least one access hole in the substrate. Each access hole connects the respective groove in fluid communication with the respective interior space. A coating is disposed over at least a portion of the substrate surface, such that the groove(s) and the coating together define one or more channels for cooling the component. A component is also disclose and has at least one groove with an asymmetric cross-section.

Claims

1. A method of fabricating a component comprising a substrate having an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the inner surface defines at least one interior space, the fabrication method comprising:

forming at least one groove in the outer surface of the substrate, wherein each groove extends at least partially along the outer surface of the substrate and has an asymmetric cross-section;

forming at least one access hole in the substrate, wherein each access hole connects the respective groove in fluid communication with the respective interior space; and

disposing a coating over at least a portion of the surface of the substrate, such that the groove(s) and the coating together define one or more channels for cooling the component.

2. The fabrication method of claim 1, wherein each groove is formed by directing an abrasive liquid jet at the outer surface of the substrate, wherein at least one groove is formed by directing the abrasive liquid jet at a lateral angle relative to the surface of the substrate in one or more passes of the abrasive liquid jet.

3. The fabrication method of claim 2, wherein the step of forming the groove further comprises performing at least one additional pass where the abrasive liquid jet is directed toward a base of the groove at one or more angles between the lateral angle and a direction substantially normal to the outer surface of the substrate, such that material is removed from the base of the groove.

4. The fabrication method of claim 1, wherein a base of a respective groove is at least 2 times wider than a top of the respective groove.

5. The fabrication method of claim 1, wherein a first wall of a respective groove is oriented at an angle φ

in a range of about 10-80 degrees relative to a surface normal.

6. The fabrication method of claim 5, wherein a second wall of a respective groove is oriented at an angle θ

in a range of about 0-50 degrees relative to a surface normal.

7. The fabrication method of claim 1, wherein the coating is applied at an angle of incidence that is approximately normal to the outer surface of the substrate.

8. The fabrication method of claim 1, wherein the coating is applied at an angle of incidence that is approximately orthogonal to a general angle of a short leg of the respective groove.

9. A method of fabricating a component comprising a substrate having an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the inner surface defines at least one interior space, the fabrication method comprising:

disposing a structural coating on the outer surface of the substrate;

forming at least one groove at least partially in the structural coating, wherein each groove extends at least partially along the outer surface of the structural coating and has an asymmetric cross-section;

forming at least one access hole in the substrate, wherein each access hole connects the groove in fluid communication with the respective interior space; and

disposing a coating over at least a portion of the surface of the structural coating, such that the groove(s) and the coating together define one or more channels for cooling the component.

10. The fabrication method of claim 9, wherein the grooves are located entirely within the structural coating.

11. The fabrication method of claim 9, wherein the grooves extend through the structural coating into the substrate.

12. The fabrication method of claim 9, wherein each groove is formed by directing an abrasive liquid jet at the surface of the structural coating, wherein at least one groove is formed by directing the abrasive liquid jet at a lateral angle relative to the surface of the structural coating in one or more passes of the abrasive liquid jet.

13. The fabrication method of claim 12, wherein the step of forming the groove further comprises performing at least one additional pass where the abrasive liquid jet is directed toward a base of the groove at one or more angles between the lateral angle and a direction substantially normal to the surface of the structural coating, such that material is removed from the base of the groove.

14. The fabrication method of claim 9, wherein a first wall of a respective groove is oriented at an angle φ

in a range of about 10-80 degrees relative to a surface normal.

15. The fabrication method of claim 14, wherein a second wall of a respective groove is oriented at an angle θ

in a range of about 0-50 degrees relative to a surface normal.

16. The fabrication method of claim 9, wherein the coating is applied at an angle of incidence that is approximately normal to the surface of the structural coating.

17. The fabrication method of claim 9, wherein the coating is applied at an angle of incidence that is approximately orthogonal to a general angle of a short leg of the respective groove.

18. A component comprising:

a substrate having an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the inner surface defines at least one interior space, wherein at least one groove extends at least partially along the outer surface of the substrate and has an asymmetric cross-section, wherein at least one access hole is formed in the substrate and connects each groove in fluid communication with the respective interior space; and

at least one coating disposed over at least a portion of the surface of the substrate, such that the groove(s) and the coating together define one or more channels for cooling the component.

19. The component of claim 18, wherein the coating comprises at least one of a structural coating, a bond coating, and a thermal barrier coating.

20. The component of claim 19, wherein the coating comprises at least an inner layer of a structural coating disposed on the outer surface of the substrate and an additional coating layer, and wherein the grooves are formed at least partially in the structural coating.

21. The component of claim 20, wherein the grooves are located entirely within the structural coating.

22. The component of claim 20, wherein the grooves extend through the structural coating into the substrate.

23. The component of claim 18, wherein the grooves are formed in the outer surface of the substrate.

24. The component of claim 18, wherein a base of a respective groove is at least 2 times wider than a top of the respective groove.

25. The component of claim 18, wherein a first wall of a respective groove is oriented at an angle φ

in a range of about 10-80 degrees relative to a surface normal.

26. The component of claim 25, wherein a second wall of the respective groove is oriented at an angle θ

in a range of about 0-50 degrees relative to a surface normal.

27. The component of claim 18, wherein the coating completely bridges the respective groove(s), such that the coating seals the respective microchannel(s).

28. The component of claim 18, wherein the coating defines one or more porous gaps, such that the coating does not completely bridge each groove.