Airfoil with cooling passage providing variable heat transfer rate
First Claim
1. A turbine engine airfoil comprising:
- an airfoil structure including a side having an exterior surface, the structure having a cooling passage with a cross-sectional area provided by a width and a thickness, the width greater than the thickness, the cooling passage extending a length within the structure and providing a convection surface facing the side, the convection surface twisted along the length varying a heat transfer rate between the exterior surface and the convection surface along the length, wherein the convection surface twists less than one complete turn along the length.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A turbine engine airfoil includes an airfoil structure having a side with an exterior surface. The structure includes a cooling passage extending a length within the structure and providing a convection surface facing the side. The convection surface is twisted along the length, which varies a heat transfer rate between the exterior surface and the convection surface along the length. In one example, the cooling passage is provided by a refractory metal core that is used during the airfoil casting process. The core includes multiple legs joined by a connecting portion. At least one of the legs is twisted along its length. The legs are deformed toward one another opposite the connecting portion to provide a desired core shape that corresponds to the shape of the cooling passage. Accordingly, the cooling passage provides desired cooling of the airfoil.
94 Citations
13 Claims
-
1. A turbine engine airfoil comprising:
an airfoil structure including a side having an exterior surface, the structure having a cooling passage with a cross-sectional area provided by a width and a thickness, the width greater than the thickness, the cooling passage extending a length within the structure and providing a convection surface facing the side, the convection surface twisted along the length varying a heat transfer rate between the exterior surface and the convection surface along the length, wherein the convection surface twists less than one complete turn along the length. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
11. A turbine engine airfoil comprising:
an airfoil structure including a side having an exterior surface, the structure having a cooling passage with a cross-sectional area provided by a width and a thickness, the width greater than the thickness, the cooling passage extending a length within the structure and providing a convection surface facing the side, the cooling passage separated from the exterior surface by a wall, the convection surface having a generally uniform width, the convection surface at a first distance from the exterior surface at a first location along the length and at a second distance greater than the first distance at a second location along the length, wherein the convection surface twists less than one complete turn along the length. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
Specification