Method and apparatus for cooling a wall within a gas turbine engine

• US 6,402,470 B1
• Filed: 10/05/1999
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Joe, Christopher R., Hayes, Douglas A., Kvasnak, William S., Soechting, Friedrich O., Moroso, Joe, LaFleur, Ronald S.
• Primary Examiner(s): VERDIER, CHRISTOPHER M
• Application Number:
  US09/412,950
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• Field of Search: 415/115, 415/116, 416/96.R, 416/96.A, 416/97.R, 416/97.A
• US Class Current: 416/97.00R
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/12 Cooling
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 5/187 Convection cooling
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/2212 by creating turbulence
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/2214 by increasing the heat transfer surface

Abstract

A cooling circuit is provided disposed between a first wall portion and a second wall portion of a wall for use in a gas turbine engine, one or more inlet apertures, and one or more exit apertures. The inlet aperture(s) provides a cooling airflow path into the cooling circuit and the exit aperture(s) provides a cooling airflow path out of the cooling circuit. The cooling circuit includes a plurality of first pedestals extending between the first wall portion and the second wall portion. The first pedestals are arranged in one or more rows.

Claims

1. A cooling circuit disposed between a first wall portion and a second wall portion of a wall for use in a gas turbine engine, comprising:

a plurality of first pedestals extending between said first wall portion and said second wall portion, and arranged in rows, and wherein adjacent said first pedestals in the same said row are separated from one another by an intra-row distance, and wherein said first pedestals in adjacent said rows are separated by an inter-row distance, and said intra-row distance is greater than said inter-row distance;

one or more inlet apertures disposed in said wall providing a cooling air flow path into said cooling circuit; and

one or more exit apertures disposed in said wall providing a cooling air flow path out of said cooling circuit;

wherein said first pedestals within adjacent said rows are offset from one another and passages extending through two or more of said first pedestal rows follow a serpentine path; and

wherein said cooling circuit has a forward end upstream of an aft end and a first side and a second side, said sides extending lengthwise between said forward and aft ends, wherein said passages adjacent said sides have a cross-sectional area greater than said cross-sectional area of said passages extending through two or more of said first pedestal rows elsewhere within said cooling circuit.

2. A cooling circuit disposed between a first wall portion and a second wall portion of a wall for use in a gas turbine engine, comprising:

a plurality first pedestals extending between said first wall portion and said second wall portion, and arranged in rows;

one or more inlet apertures disposed in said wall providing a cooling air flow path into said cooling circuit; and

a plurality of exit apertures providing a cooling air flow path out of said cooling circuit, said exit apertures formed between a plurality of second pedestals and third pedestals alternately disposed along an aft end of said cooling circuit, wherein said second and third pedestals have mating geometries.

3. The cooling circuit of claim 2, wherein each exit aperture comprises:

a metering passage section;

a straight passage section, having a hydraulic diameter and a length; and

a tapered passage portion.

4. The cooling circuit of claim 3, wherein said length of said straight passage section is equal to or greater than one-half times said hydraulic diameter, and less than or equal to four times said hydraulic diameter.

5. A cooling circuit disposed between a first wall portion and a second wall portion of a wall for use in a gas turbine engine, comprising:

a plurality first pedestals extending between said first wall portion and said second wall portion, and arranged in rows;

one or more inlet apertures disposed in said wall providing a cooling air flow path into said cooling circuit; and

a plurality of exit apertures providing a cooling air flow path out of said cooling circuit, said exit apertures formed between a plurality of second pedestals and third pedestals alternately disposed along an aft end of said cooling circuit, wherein said second and third pedestals have mating geometries; and

wherein each said second pedestal includes a head having a pair of lateral protrusions and a forward protrusion, and a tail having a width that tapers in a direction toward said aft end.

6. The cooling circuit of claim 5, wherein each said third pedestal comprises:

a head having a shape that substantially mates with said lateral protrusions of said second pedestals; and

a tail having a width that tapers in a direction toward said aft end.

7. A cooling circuit disposed between a first wall portion and a second wall portion of a wall for use in a gas turbine engine, comprising:

one or more rows of first pedestals, each said first pedestal extending between said first wall portion and said second wall portion in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first wall portion and said second wall portion, each said first pedestal having a center and a plurality of concave side panels that extend inwardly toward said center;

one or more inlet apertures disposed in said wall providing a cooling air flow path into said cooling circuit; and

a plurality of exit apertures providing a cooling air flow path out of said cooling circuit.

8. The cooling circuit of claim 7, wherein each said first pedestal includes four said concave side panels.

9. A cooling circuit disposed between a first wall portion and a second wall portion of a wall for use in a gas turbine engine, comprising:

a plurality of rows of first pedestals, each said first pedestal extending between said first wall portion and said second wall portion, each said first pedestal having a center and four concave side panels that extend inwardly toward said center, and wherein adjacent said rows of said first pedestals are offset from one another;

one or more inlet apertures disposed in said wall providing a cooling air flow path into said cooling circuit; and

a plurality of exit apertures providing a cooling air flow path out of said cooling circuit.

10. A cooling circuit disposed between a first wall portion and a second wall portion of a wall for use in a gas turbine engine, comprising:

a plurality of rows of first pedestals, each said first pedestal extending between said first wall portion and said second wall portion;

a plurality of passages formed between adjacent first pedestals in adjacent rows, each said passage including a first throat, a diffuser, and a second throat;

one or more inlet apertures disposed in said wall providing a cooling air flow path into said cooling circuit; and

a plurality of exit apertures providing a cooling air flow path out of said cooling circuit.

11. The cooling circuit of claim 10, wherein adjacent said rows of said first pedestals are offset from one another.

12. A cooling circuit disposed between a first wall portion and a second wall portion of a wall for use in a gas turbine engine, comprising:

a plurality of rows of first pedestals, each said first pedestal extending between said first wall portion and said second wall portion, and each said first pedestal includes four concave side panels, and wherein adjacent said rows of said first pedestals are offset from one another;

a plurality of passages formed between adjacent first pedestals in adjacent rows, each said passage including a first throat, a diffuser, and a second throat;

one or more inlet apertures disposed in said wall providing a cooling air flow path into said cooling circuit; and

a plurality of exit apertures providing a cooling air flow path out of said cooling circuit.

13. A coolable wall for use in a gas turbine engine, comprising:

a first wall portion;

a second wall portion;

one or more cooling circuits disposed between said wall portions, wherein each said cooling circuit includes;

a plurality of rows of first pedestals, each said first pedestal extending between said first wall portion and said second wall portion;

a plurality of passages formed between adjacent first pedestals in adjacent rows, each said passage including a first throat, a diffuser, and a second throat;

one or more inlet apertures disposed in said wall providing a cooling air flow path into said cooling circuit; and

a plurality of exit apertures providing a cooling air flow path out of said cooling circuit.

14. A coolable wall for use in a gas turbine engine, comprising:

a first wall portion;

a second wall portion;

one or more cooling circuits disposed between said wall portions, wherein each said cooling circuit includes;

one or more rows of first pedestals, each said first pedestal extending between said first wall portion and said second wall portion;

one or more inlet apertures disposed in said wall providing a cooling air flow path into said cooling circuit; and

a plurality of exit apertures providing a cooling air flow path out of said cooling circuit, said exit apertures formed between a plurality of second pedestals and third pedestals alternately disposed along an aft end of said cooling circuit, wherein said second pedestals and said third pedestals have mating geometries and wherein each exit aperture includes a metering passage section, a straight passage section, and a tapered passage portion.

15. A coolable gas turbine airfoil, comprising:

a leading edge;

a trailing edge;

a wall extending between said leading edge and said trailing edge, said wall having a first wall portion and a second wall portion;

one or more cooling circuits disposed between said wall portions adjacent said trailing edge, wherein each of said one or more cooling circuits includes;

one or more rows of first pedestals, each said first pedestal extending between said first wall portion and said second wall portion;

one or more inlet apertures disposed in said wall providing a cooling air flow path into said one or more cooling circuits;

a plurality of exit apertures providing a cooling air flow path out of each of said one or more cooling circuits, said exit apertures formed between a plurality of second pedestals and third pedestals alternately disposed along an aft end of each of said one or more cooling circuits, wherein said second and third pedestals have mating geometries, and wherein each said exit aperture includes a metering passage section, a straight passage section, and a tapered passage section; and

one or more array apertures disposed upstream of and adjacent said exit apertures, such that cooling air exiting said tray apertures cools said wall upstream of said exit apertures.