Effect of Rotation on a Gas Turbine Blade Internal Cooling System: Numerical Investigation

Author(s):  
E. Burberi ◽  
D. Massini ◽  
L. Cocchi ◽  
L. Mazzei ◽  
A. Andreini ◽  
...  

Increasing turbine inlet temperature is one of the main strategies used to accomplish the demands of increased performance of modern gas turbines. As a consequence, optimization of the cooling system is of paramount importance in gas turbine development. Leading edge represents a critical part of cooled nozzles and blades, given the presence of the hot gases stagnation point and the unfavourable geometry for cooling. This paper reports the results of a numerical investigation aimed at assessing the rotation effects on the heat transfer distribution in a realistic leading edge internal cooling system of a high pressure gas turbine blade. The numerical investigation was carried out in order to support and to allow an in-depth understanding of the results obtained in a parallel experimental campaign. The model is composed of a trapezoidal feeding channel which provides air to the cold bridge system by means of three large racetrack-shaped holes, generating coolant impingement on the internal concave leading edge surface, whereas four big fins assure the jets confinement. Air is then extracted through 4 rows of 6 holes reproducing the external cooling system composed of shower-head and film cooling holes. Experiments were performed in static and rotating conditions replicating the typical range of jet Reynolds number (Rej) from 10000 to 40000 and Rotation number (Roj) up to 0.05, for three crossflow cases representative of the working condition that can be found at blade tip, midspan and hub, respectively. Experimental results in terms of flow field measurements on several internal planes and heat transfer coefficient on the LE internal surface have been performed on two analogous experimental campaigns at University of Udine and University of Florence respectively. Hybrid RANS-LES models were used for the simulations, such as Scale Adaptive Simulation (SAS) and Detached Eddy Simulation (DES), given their ability to resolve the complex flow field associated with jet impingement. Numerical flow field results are reported in terms of both jet velocity profiles and 2D vector plots on symmetry and transversal internal planes, while the heat transfer coefficient distributions are presented as detailed 2D maps together with radial and tangential averaged Nusselt number profiles. A fairly good agreement with experimental measurements is observed, which represent a validation of the adopted computational model. As a consequence, the computed aerodynamic and thermal fields also allow an in-depth interpretation of the experimental results.

Author(s):  
Daniele Massini ◽  
Emanuele Burberi ◽  
Carlo Carcasci ◽  
Lorenzo Cocchi ◽  
Bruno Facchini ◽  
...  

A detailed aerothermal characterization of an advanced leading edge cooling system has been performed by means of experimental measurements. Heat transfer coefficient distribution has been evaluated exploiting a steady-state technique using Thermocromic Liquid Crystals (TLC), while flow field has been investigated by means of Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV). The geometry key features are the multiple impinging jets and the four rows of coolant extraction holes, which mass flow rate distribution is representative of real engine working conditions. Tests have been performed in both static and rotating conditions, replicating a typical range of jet Reynolds number (Rej), from 10000 to 40000, and Rotation number (Roj) up to 0.05. Different cross-flow conditions (CR) have been used to simulate the three main blade regions (i.e. tip, mid and hub). The aerothermal field turned out to be rather complex, but a good agreement between heat transfer coefficient and flow field measurement has been found. In particular, jet bending strongly depends on crossflow intensity, while rotation has a weak effect on both jet velocity core and area-averaged Nusselt number. Rotational effects increase for the lower cross-flow tests. Heat transfer pattern shape has been found to be substantially Reynolds-independent.


Author(s):  
Daniele Massini ◽  
Emanuele Burberi ◽  
Carlo Carcasci ◽  
Lorenzo Cocchi ◽  
Bruno Facchini ◽  
...  

A detailed aerothermal characterization of an advanced leading edge (LE) cooling system has been performed by means of experimental measurements. Heat transfer coefficient distribution has been evaluated exploiting a steady-state technique using thermochromic liquid crystals (TLCs), while flow field has been investigated by means of particle image velocimetry (PIV). The geometry key features are the multiple impinging jets and the four rows of coolant extraction holes, and their mass flow rate distribution is representative of real engine working conditions. Tests have been performed in both static and rotating conditions, replicating a typical range of jet Reynolds number (Rej), from 10,000 to 40,000, and rotation number (Roj) up to 0.05. Different crossflow conditions (CR) have been used to simulate the three main blade regions (i.e., tip, mid, and hub). The aerothermal field turned out to be rather complex, but a good agreement between heat transfer coefficient and flow field measurement has been found. In particular, jet bending strongly depends on crossflow intensity, while rotation has a weak effect on both jet velocity core and area-averaged Nusselt number. Rotational effects increase for the lower crossflow tests. Heat transfer pattern shape has been found to be substantially Reynolds independent.


Author(s):  
L. Bonanni ◽  
C. Carcasci ◽  
B. Facchini ◽  
L. Tarchi

The high thermal loads, the heavy structural stresses and the small thickness required for aerodynamic performances make the trailing edge cooling (TE) cooling of high pressure gas turbine blades a critical challenge. The presented paper point out an experimental study focusing the aerothermal performance of a TE internal cooling system of a high pressure gas turbine blade, evaluated under stationary and rotating conditions. The investigated geometry consists of a 30:1 scaled model reproducing the typical wedge shaped discharge duct with one row of enlarged pedestals. The airflow pattern inside the device simulates a highly loaded rotor blade cooling scheme with a 90° turning flow from the radial hub inlet to the tangential TE outlet. Two different tip configurations were tested, the first one with a completely closed section, the second one with 5 holes on the tip outlet surfaces discharging at ambient pressure. To investigate the rotation effects on the trailing edge cooling system performance, a rotating test rig was purposely developed and manufactured. The test rig is composed by a rotating arm that holds the PMMA TE model and the instrumentation. A thin Inconel heating foil and wide band Thermo-chromic Liquid Crystals are used to perform steady state heat transfer measurements. A rotary joint ensures the pneumatic connection between the blower and the rotating apparatus, moreover several slip rings are used for both instrumentation power supply and thermocouple connection. Heat transfer coefficient measurements were made with fixed Reynolds number close to 20k in the hub inlet section and with variable rotating speed in order to set the Rotation number from 0 (non rotational test) up to 0.3. Six different configurations were tested: two different tip mass flow rates (the first one with a completely closed tip, the second one with the 12.5% of the inlet flow discharged from the tip) and three different surface conditions: the first one consists in the flat plate case and the others in two ribbed cases, with different angular orientation (60° and −60° respect to the radial direction). Results are reported in terms of detailed heat transfer coefficient 2D maps on the suction side surface as well as span-wise profiles inside the pedestal ducts. The reported work has been supported by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR).


2000 ◽  
Vol 122 (4) ◽  
pp. 717-724 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gm. S. Azad ◽  
Je-Chin Han ◽  
Shuye Teng ◽  
Robert J. Boyle

Heat transfer coefficient and static pressure distributions are experimentally investigated on a gas turbine blade tip in a five-bladed stationary linear cascade. The blade is a two-dimensional model of a first-stage gas turbine rotor blade with a blade tip profile of a GE-E3 aircraft gas turbine engine rotor blade. The flow condition in the test cascade corresponds to an overall pressure ratio of 1.32 and exit Reynolds number based on axial chord of 1.1×106. The middle 3-blade has a variable tip gap clearance. All measurements are made at three different tip gap clearances of about 1, 1.5, and 2.5 percent of the blade span. Heat transfer measurements are also made at two different turbulence intensity levels of 6.1 and 9.7 percent at the cascade inlet. Static pressure measurements are made in the midspan and the near-tip regions as well as on the shroud surface, opposite the blade tip surface. Detailed heat transfer coefficient distributions on the plane tip surface are measured using a transient liquid crystal technique. Results show various regions of high and low heat transfer coefficient on the tip surface. Tip clearance has a significant influence on local tip heat transfer coefficient distribution. Heat transfer coefficient also increases about 15–20 percent along the leakage flow path at higher turbulence intensity level of 9.7 over 6.1 percent. [S0889-504X(00)00404-9]


Author(s):  
Quanhong Xu ◽  
Chi Zhang ◽  
Yuzhen Lin ◽  
Gaoen Liu

The present study is conducted to investigate the characteristics of the flow field and heat transfer in an impingement/effusion cooling scheme for gas turbine combustor liner. It is designed to provide an insight, through the study of the flow field, into the physical mechanisms responsible for the enhanced impingement heat transfer near the effusion hole entrance. In this impingement/effusion cooling scheme, the angle between the impingement hole and effusion hole and the wall surface are 90 deg and 30 deg respectively. The square arrays of impingement/effusion holes are used with equal numbers of holes offset half a pitch relative to each plate so that an impingement jet is located on the center of each four effusion holes and vice versa. The flow field of the double skin wall space is described by the way of Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV). Two kinds of target plates, with and without effusion holes, are used in the impingement heat transfer study. Through changing the impingement Reynolds and the impingement gap, the change of the impingement heat transfer coefficient on the target plates is investigated. The impingement heat transfer test results show that the impingement heat transfer is enhanced near the entrance of the effusion holes, which could fully explain the feature of the impingement heat transfer coefficient on the target plate.


1997 ◽  
Vol 119 (3) ◽  
pp. 594-600 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. V. Ekkad ◽  
A. B. Mehendale ◽  
J. C. Han ◽  
C. P. Lee

Experiments were performed to study the combined effect of grid turbulence and unsteady wake on film effectiveness and heat transfer coefficient of a turbine blade model. Tests were done on a five-blade linear cascade at the chord Reynolds number of 3.0 × 105 at cascade inlet. Several combinations of turbulence grids, their locations, and unsteady wake strengths were used to generate various upstream turbulence conditions. The test blade had three rows of film holes in the leading edge region and two rows each on the pressure and suction surfaces. Air and CO2 were used as injectants. Results show that Nusselt numbers for a blade with film injection are much higher than that without film holes. An increase in mainstream turbulence level causes an increase in Nusselt numbers and a decrease in film effectiveness over most of the blade surface, for both density injectants, and at all blowing ratios. A free-stream turbulence superimposed on an unsteady wake significantly affects Nusselt numbers and film effectiveness compared with only an unsteady wake condition.


2002 ◽  
Vol 124 (3) ◽  
pp. 452-459 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gm Salam Azad ◽  
Je-Chin Han ◽  
Ronald S. Bunker ◽  
C. Pang Lee

This study investigates the effect of a squealer tip geometry arrangement on heat transfer coefficient and static pressure distributions on a gas turbine blade tip in a five-bladed stationary linear cascade. A transient liquid crystal technique is used to obtain detailed heat transfer coefficient distribution. The test blade is a linear model of a tip section of the GE E3 high-pressure turbine first stage rotor blade. Six tip geometry cases are studied: (1) squealer on pressure side, (2) squealer on mid camber line, (3) squealer on suction side, (4) squealer on pressure and suction sides, (5) squealer on pressure side plus mid camber line, and (6) squealer on suction side plus mid camber line. The flow condition during the blowdown tests corresponds to an overall pressure ratio of 1.32 and exit Reynolds number based on axial chord of 1.1×106. Results show that squealer geometry arrangement can change the leakage flow and results in different heat transfer coefficients to the blade tip. A squealer on suction side provides a better benefit compared to that on pressure side or mid camber line. A squealer on mid camber line performs better than that on a pressure side.


2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gm Salam Azad ◽  
Je-Chin Han ◽  
Ronald S. Bunker ◽  
C. Pang Lee

Abstract This study investigates the effect of a squealer tip geometry arrangement on heat transfer coefficient and static pressure distributions on a gas turbine blade tip in a five-bladed stationary linear cascade. A transient liquid crystal technique is used to obtain detailed heat transfer coefficient distribution. The test blade is a linear model of a tip section of the GE E3 high-pressure turbine first stage rotor blade. Six tip geometry cases are studied: 1) squealer on pressure side, 2) squealer on mid camber line, 3) squealer on suction side, 4) squealer on pressure and suction sides, 5) squealer on pressure side plus mid camber line, and 6) squealer on suction side plus mid camber line. The flow condition corresponds to an overall pressure ratio of 1.32 and exit Reynolds number based on axial chord of 1.1 × 106. Results show that squealer geometry arrangement can change the leakage flow and results in different heat transfer coefficients to the blade tip. A squealer on suction side provides a better benefit compared to that on pressure side or mid camber line. A squealer on mid camber line performs better than that on a pressure side.


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