Flange cooled turbine nozzle

• US 8,292,573 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2009
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Broomer, Mark, Manning, Robert Francis, Liu, Haidong
• Primary Examiner(s): Maldonado, Julio J
• Assistant Examiner(s): BACHNER, ROBERT G
• Application Number:
  US12/427,072
• Publication Number:
  US 20100266386A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,281 Days
• Field of Search: 415/178, 415/209.2
• US Class Current: 415/178
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/12 Cooling
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 9/041 using blades F01D5/148 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2240/11 Shroud seal segments
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2240/81 Cooled platforms
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/201 by impingement of a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft

Abstract

A turbine nozzle includes outer and inner bands bounding nozzle vanes. The outer band includes an aft flange. An impingement baffle bridges the outer band and aft flange at the root thereof to provide impingement cooling.

Claims

1. A turbine nozzle comprising:

outer and inner bands bounding a row of vanes extending axially between leading and trailing edges;

said outer band including an imperforate aft flange disposed above said trailing edges, with an undercut pocket in a root of said flange, said pocket extending axially aft from a forward face of said aft flange, and being contiguous with an outer surface of said outer band; and

an impingement baffle bridging said outer band and aft flange at said root to cover said pocket, and including a row of impingement holes facing said pocket.

2. A nozzle according to claim 1 further comprising a row of outlet holes extending through said outer band forward of said root in flow communication with said pocket for discharging spent impingement air.

3. A nozzle according to claim 2 wherein said outlet holes are disposed forward of said impingement holes.

4. A nozzle according to claim 3 wherein:

said aft flange includes a radially outer seat disposed above said pocket; and

said impingement baffle includes an aft lip extending radially along said aft flange below said seat, and a main panel spaced above said outer band, with said impingement holes extending through a fillet junction therebetween.

5. A nozzle according to claim 4 wherein:

said aft lip is parallel to said aft flange above said pocket;

said impingement holes are inclined downwardly through said fillet junction to impingement cool said root at its junction with said outer band; and

said outlet holes are inclined aft through said outer band forward of said pocket.

6. A nozzle according to claim 4 wherein said impingement holes are spaced forwardly from said root at about two to three diameters of said impingement holes.

7. A nozzle according to claim 4 wherein said main panel further comprises additional impingement holes distributed forwardly of said fillet impingement holes and spaced above said outer band.

8. A nozzle according to claim 4 further comprising a single row of said impingement holes at said fillet junction.

9. A nozzle according to claim 4 further comprising two rows of said outlet holes spaced in turn forwardly from said row of impingement holes.

10. A nozzle according to claim 4 wherein said outer seat comprises an aft facing step disposed above said root, and said pocket extends forwardly there from.

11. A turbine nozzle comprising:

radially outer and inner bands joined to opposite ends of vanes;

each vane including axially opposite leading and trailing edges and circumferentially opposite pressure and suction sides extending radially between said bands;

said outer band including an imperforate aft flange extending radially outwardly above said trailing edges;

said aft flange having a radially inner root joining said outer band, and an opposite, radially outer seat for receiving a seal, wherein said aft flange further includes an undercut pocket in said root of said aft flange, said pocket extending axially aft from a forward face of said flange, and being contiguous with an outer surface of said outer band;

an impingement baffle bridging said outer band and aft flange at said root with a row of impingement holes facing said root; and

a row of outlet holes extending through said outer band forward of said root in flow communication with said impingement holes for discharging spent impingement air.

12. A nozzle according to claim 11 wherein said impingement baffle includes an aft lip extending radially outwardly along said aft flange, and a main panel spaced above said outer band, and said impingement holes extend radially through a fillet junction there between.

13. A nozzle according to claim 12 wherein said outlet holes are disposed forward of said impingement holes.

14. A nozzle according to claim 11 wherein:

said aft lip is parallel to said aft flange above said pocket;

said impingement holes are inclined downwardly through said fillet junction to impingement cool said root at its junction with said outer band; and

said outlet holes are inclined aft through said outer band forward of said pocket.

15. A nozzle according to claim 14 wherein said impingement holes are spaced forwardly from said root at about two to three diameters of said impingement holes.

16. A nozzle according to claim 11 wherein said main panel further comprises additional impingement holes distributed forwardly of said fillet impingement holes and spaced above said outer band.

17. A nozzle according to claim 11 further comprising a single row of said impingement holes at said fillet junction.

18. A nozzle according to claim 11 further comprising two rows of said outlet holes spaced in turn forwardly from said row of impingement holes.

19. A nozzle according to claim 11 wherein said outer seat comprises an aft facing step disposed above said root, and said pocket extends forwardly there from.

20. A nozzle according to claim 11 wherein said aft lip includes a bend extending aft into said pocket closely adjacent to said aft flange under said seat to provide a gap therebetween.