Numerical Optimization, Characterization, and Experimental Investigation of Additively Manufactured Communicating Microchannels

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn L. Kirsch ◽  
Karen A. Thole
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Experimental Investigation ◽  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Manufacturing Process ◽  
Pressure Loss ◽  
Transport Systems ◽  
Optimized Design ◽  
Internal Cooling ◽  
Natural Systems ◽  
Successful Replication

The degree of complexity in internal cooling designs is tied to the capabilities of the manufacturing process. Additive manufacturing grants designers increased freedom while offering adequate reproducibility of micro-sized, unconventional features that can be used to cool the skin of gas turbine components. One such desirable feature can be sourced from nature; a common characteristic of natural transport systems is a network of communicating channels. In an effort to create an engineered design that utilizes the benefits of those natural systems, the current study presents wavy microchannels that were connected using branches. Two different wavelength baseline configurations were designed, then each were numerically optimized using a commercial adjoint-based method. Three objective functions were posed to (1) minimize pressure loss, (2) maximize heat transfer, and (3) maximize the ratio of heat transfer to pressure loss. All baseline and optimized microchannels were manufactured using Laser Powder Bed Fusion for experimental investigation; pressure loss and heat transfer data were collected over a range of Reynolds numbers. The additive manufacturing process reproduced the desired optimized geometries faithfully. Surface roughness, however, strongly influenced the experimental results; successful replication of the intended flow and heat transfer performance was tied to the optimized design intent. Even still, certain test coupons yielded performances that correlated well with the simulation results.

Numerical Optimization, Characterization, and Experimental Investigation of Additively Manufactured Communicating Microchannels

2018 ◽  
Vol 140 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn L. Kirsch ◽  
Karen A. Thole
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Experimental Investigation ◽  
Pressure Loss ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Transport Systems ◽  
Optimized Design ◽  
Internal Cooling ◽  
Natural Systems ◽  
Flow And Heat Transfer ◽  
Successful Replication

The degree of complexity in internal cooling designs is tied to the capabilities of the manufacturing process. Additive manufacturing (AM) grants designers increased freedom while offering adequate reproducibility of microsized, unconventional features that can be used to cool the skin of gas turbine components. One such desirable feature can be sourced from nature; a common characteristic of natural transport systems is a network of communicating channels. In an effort to create an engineered design that utilizes the benefits of those natural systems, the current study presents wavy microchannels that were connected using branches. Two different wavelength baseline configurations were designed; then each was numerically optimized using a commercial adjoint-based method. Three objective functions were posed to (1) minimize pressure loss, (2) maximize heat transfer, and (3) maximize the ratio of heat transfer to pressure loss. All baseline and optimized microchannels were manufactured using laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) for experimental investigation; pressure loss and heat transfer data were collected over a range of Reynolds numbers. The AM process reproduced the desired optimized geometries faithfully. Surface roughness, however, strongly influenced the experimental results; successful replication of the intended flow and heat transfer performance was tied to the optimized design intent. Even still, certain test coupons yielded performances that correlated well with the simulation results.

Effect of Additive Manufacturing Process Parameters on Turbine Cooling

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob C. Snyder ◽  
Karen A. Thole
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Surface Morphology ◽  
Process Parameters ◽  
Manufacturing Process ◽  
Pressure Loss ◽  
Cooling Performance ◽  
Micro Scale ◽  
Turbine Cooling ◽  
External Cooling

Abstract Turbine cooling is a prime application for additive manufacturing because it enables quick development and implementation of innovative designs optimized for efficient heat removal, especially at the micro-scale. At the micro-scale, however, the surface finish plays a significant role in the heat transfer and pressure loss of any cooling design. Previous research on additively manufactured cooling channels has shown the surface roughness increases both heat transfer and pressure loss to similar levels as highly-engineered turbine cooling schemes. What has not been shown, however, is whether opportunities exist to tailor additively manufactured surfaces through control of the process parameters to further enhance the desired heat transfer and pressure loss characteristics. The results presented in this paper uniquely show the potential of manipulating the parameters within the additive manufacturing process to control the surface morphology, directly influencing turbine cooling. To determine the effect of parameters on cooling performance, coupons were additively manufactured for common internal and external cooling methods using different laser powers, scan speeds, and scanning strategies. Internal and external cooling tests were performed at engine relevant conditions to measure appropriate metrics of performance. Results showed the process parameters have a significant impact on the surface morphology leading to differences in cooling performance. Specifically, internal and external cooling geometries react differently to changes in parameters, highlighting the opportunity to consider process parameters when implementing additive manufacturing for turbine cooling applications.

scholarly journals Effect of Additive Manufacturing Process Parameters on Turbine Cooling

2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob C. Snyder ◽  
Karen A. Thole
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Surface Morphology ◽  
Process Parameters ◽  
Manufacturing Process ◽  
Pressure Loss ◽  
Cooling Performance ◽  
Micro Scale ◽  
Turbine Cooling ◽  
External Cooling

Abstract Turbine cooling is a prime application for additive manufacturing because it enables quick development and implementation of innovative designs optimized for efficient heat removal, especially at the micro-scale. At the micro-scale, however, the surface finish plays a significant role in the heat transfer and pressure loss of any cooling design. Previous research on additively manufactured cooling channels has shown surface roughness increases both heat transfer and pressure loss to similar levels as highly engineered turbine cooling schemes. What has not been shown, however, is whether opportunities exist to tailor additively manufactured surfaces through control of the process parameters to further enhance the desired heat transfer and pressure loss characteristics. The results presented in this paper uniquely show the potential of manipulating the parameters within the additive manufacturing process to control the surface morphology, directly influencing turbine cooling. To determine the effect of parameters on cooling performance, coupons were additively manufactured for common internal and external cooling methods using different laser powers, scan speeds, and scanning strategies. Internal and external cooling tests were performed at engine relevant conditions to measure appropriate metrics of performance. Results showed the process parameters have a significant impact on the surface morphology leading to differences in cooling performance. Specifically, internal and external cooling geometries react differently to changes in parameters, highlighting the opportunity to consider process parameters when implementing additive manufacturing for turbine cooling applications.

Full Surface Heat Transfer Measurement of a Turbine Internal Cooling System Using a Large Scaled Model

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nojin Park ◽  
Changmin Son ◽  
Jangsik Yang ◽  
Changyong Lee ◽  
Kidon Lee
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Heat Transfer Enhancement ◽  
Pressure Loss ◽  
Cooling System ◽  
Surface Heat ◽  
Internal Cooling ◽  
Transfer Enhancement ◽  
Scaled Model ◽  
Surface Heat Transfer

A series of experiments were conducted to investigate the detailed heat transfer characteristics of a large scaled model of a turbine blade internal cooling system. The cooling system has one passage in the leading edge and a triple passage for the remained region with two U-bends. A large scaled model (2 times) is designed to acquire high resolution measurement. The similarity of the test model was conducted with Reynolds number at the inlet of the internal cooling system. The model is designed to simulate the flow at engine condition including film extractions to match the changes in flowrates through the internal cooling system. Also, 45 deg ribs were installed for heat transfer enhancement. The experiments were performed varying Reynolds number in the range of 20,000 to 100,000 with and without ribs under stationary condition. This study employs transient heat transfer technique using thermochromic liquid crystal (TLC) to obtain full surface heat transfer distributions. The results show the detailed heat transfer distributions and pressure loss. The characteristics of pressure loss is largely dependent on the changes in cross-sectional area along the passages, the presence of U-bends and the extraction of coolant flow through film holes. The local and area averaged Nusselt number were compared to available correlations. Finally, the thermal performance counting the heat transfer enhancement as well as pressure penalty is presented.

Topology Optimization of Serpentine Channels for Minimization of Pressure Loss and Maximization of Heat Transfer Performance As Applied for Additive Manufacturing

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shinjan Ghosh ◽  
Jayanta S. Kapat
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Topology Optimization ◽  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Pressure Drop ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Turbine Blades ◽  
Inlet Temperature ◽  
Internal Cooling ◽  
Cooling Channels ◽  
Blade Cooling

Abstract Gas Turbine blade cooling is an important topic of research, as a high turbine inlet temperature (TIT) essentially means an increase in efficiency of gas turbine cycles. Internal cooling channels in gas turbine blades are key to the cooling and prevention of thermal failure of the material. Serpentine channels are a common feature in internal blade cooling. Optimization methods are often employed in the design of blade internal cooling channels to improve heat-transfer and reduce pressure drop. Topology optimization uses a variable porosity approach to manipulate flow geometries by adding or removing material. Such a method has been employed in the current work to modify the geometric configuration of a serpentine channel to improve total heat transferred and reduce the pressure drop. An in-house OpenFOAM solver has been used to create non-traditional geometries from two generic designs. Geometry-1 is a 2-D serpentine passage with an inlet and 4 bleeding holes as outlets for ejection into the trailing edge. Geometry-2 is a 3-D serpentine passage with an aspect ratio of 3:1 and consists of two 180-degree bends. The inlet velocity for both the geometries was used as 20 m/s. The governing equations employ a “Brinkman porosity parameter” to account for the porous cells in the flow domain. Results have shown a change in shape of the channel walls to enhance heat-transfer in the passage. Additive manufacturing can be employed to make such unconventional shapes.

Effect of 45-Deg Rib Orientations on Heat Transfer in a Rotating Two-Pass Channel With Aspect Ratio From 4:1 to 2:1

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Izzet Sahin ◽  
Andrew F. Chen ◽  
Chao-Cheng Shiau ◽  
Je-Chin Han ◽  
Robert Krewinkel
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Pressure Drop ◽  
Aspect Ratio ◽  
Heat Transfer Enhancement ◽  
Rotation Number ◽  
Pressure Loss ◽  
Heat Transfer Analysis ◽  
Internal Cooling ◽  
Transfer Enhancement ◽  
First Passage

Abstract The internal cooling passages of gas turbine blades mostly have varying aspect ratios from one passage to another. However, there are limited data available in the open literature that used a reduced cross-section and aspect ratio, AR, after the tip turn. Therefore, the current study presents heat transfer and pressure drop of three different α = 45° profiled rib orientations, typical parallel (usual), reversed parallel (unusual), and criss-cross patterns in a rotating two-pass rectangular channel with AR = 4:1 and 2:1 in the first radially outward flow and second radially inward flow passages respectively. For each rib orientation, regional averaged heat transfer results are obtained for both the flow passages with the Reynolds number ranging from 10,000 to 70,000 for the first passage and 16000 to 114000 for the second passage with a rotational speed range of 0 rpm to 400 rpm. This results in the highest rotation number of 0.39 and 0.16 for the first and second passage respectively. The effects of rib orientation, aspect ratio variation, 180° tip turn, and rotation number on the heat transfer and pressure drop will be addressed. According to the results, for usual, unusual and criss-cross rib patterns, increasing rotation number causes the heat transfer to decrease on the leading surface and increase on the trailing surface for the first passage and vice versa for the second passage. Overall heat transfer enhancement of the usual and unusual rib patterns is higher than criss-cross one. In terms of the pressure losses, the criss-cross rib pattern has the lowest and the usual rib pattern has the highest-pressure loss coefficients. When pressure loss and heat transfer enhancement are both taken into account together, the criss-cross or unusual rib pattern might be an option to use in the internal cooling method. Therefore, the results can be useful for turbine blade internal cooling design and heat transfer analysis.

The Effect of Turning Vanes on Pressure Loss and Heat Transfer of a Ribbed Rectangular Two-Pass Internal Cooling Channel

2010 ◽  
Vol 133 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Schüler ◽  
Frank Zehnder ◽  
Bernhard Weigand ◽  
Jens von Wolfersdorf ◽  
Sven Olaf Neumann
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Pressure Loss ◽  
Stokes Equations ◽  
Turbine Blades ◽  
Local Heat Transfer ◽  
Width Ratio ◽  
Channel Height ◽  
Internal Cooling ◽  
Thermochromic Liquid Crystal ◽  
Sharp Turn

Gas turbine blades are usually cooled by using ribbed serpentine internal cooling passages, which are fed by extracted compressor air. The individual straight ducts are connected by sharp 180 deg bends. The integration of turning vanes in the bend region lets one expect a significant reduction in pressure loss while keeping the heat transfer levels high. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to investigate the influence of different turning vane configurations on pressure loss and local heat transfer distribution. The investigations were conducted in a rectangular two-pass channel connected by a 180 deg sharp turn with a channel height-to-width ratio of H/W=2. The channel was equipped with 45 deg skewed ribs in a parallel arrangement with e/dh=0.1 and P/e=10. The tip-to-web distance was kept constant at Wel/W=1. Spatially resolved heat transfer distributions were obtained using the transient thermochromic liquid crystal technique. Furthermore static pressure measurements were conducted in order to determine the influence of turning vane configurations on pressure loss. Additionally, the configurations were investigated numerically by solving the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations using the finite-volume solver FLUENT. The numerical grids were generated by the hybrid grid generator CENTAUR. Three different turbulence models were considered: the realizable k-ε model with two-layer wall treatment, the k-ω-SST model, and the v2-f turbulence model. The results showed a significant influence of the turning vane configuration on pressure loss and heat transfer in the bend region and the outlet pass. While using an appropriate turning vane configuration, pressure loss was reduced by about 25%, keeping the heat transfer at nearly the same level in the bend region. An inappropriate configuration led to an increase in pressure loss while the heat transfer was reduced in the bend region and outlet pass.

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