Opportunities in Jet-Impingement Cooling for Gas-Turbine Engines

Impingement heat transfer is considered one of the most effective cooling technologies that yield high localized convective heat transfer coefficients. This paper studies different configurable parameters involved in jet impingement cooling such as, exit orifice shape, crossflow regulation, target surface modification, spent air reuse, impingement channel modification, jet pulsation, and other techniques to understand which of them are critical and how these heat-transfer-enhancement concepts work. The aim of this paper is to excite the thermal sciences community of this efficient cooling technique and instill some thoughts for future innovations. New orifice shapes are becoming feasible due to innovative 3D printing technologies. However, the orifice shape variations show that it is hard to beat a sharp-edged round orifice in heat transfer coefficient, but it comes with a higher pressure drop across the orifice. Any attempt to streamline the hole shape indicated a drop in the Nusselt number, thus giving the designer some control over thermal budgeting of a component. Reduction in crossflow has been attempted with channel modifications. The use of high-porosity conductive foam in the impingement space has shown marked improvement in heat transfer performance. A list of possible research topics based on this discussion is provided in the conclusion.

Impact of Ceramic Matrix Composite Topology on Friction Factor and Heat Transfer

Ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) are of interest for hot section components of gas turbine engines due to their low weight and favorable thermal properties. To implement this advanced composite in a gas turbine engine, characterizing the influence of CMC’s surface topology on heat transfer and cooling performance is critical. However, very few published studies have reported the flow and heat transfer effects caused by this unique surface topology. This study is an experimental and computational investigation to evaluate the effect of weave orientations, relevant to CMC surfaces, on the resulting pressure loss and convective heat transfer within an internal channel. The weave pattern was additively manufactured as the walls of a scaled-up coupon containing a single channel. For each of the three weave orientations, bulk pressure losses and convective heat transfer coefficients were measured over a range of Reynolds numbers. Scaling the pressure losses in terms of a friction factor and convective heat transfer coefficients in terms of a Nusselt number showed the importance of choosing the appropriate definition of the hydraulic diameter, which was particularly important for the friction factor. A coupon having one wall with the weave surface increased pressure loss and heat transfer compared to a smooth wall with the largest increases occurring when the CMC weave strands were perpendicular to the flow. Friction factor augmentations were much higher than heat transfer augmentations. When adding the weave to a second channel wall, pressure loss and heat transfer were further increased. Orienting the CMC strands perpendicular to the flow consistently showed the largest augmentations in heat transfer over a smooth channel, but at a much higher pressure loss penalty than that seen with the CMC strands parallel to the flow.

Impact of Ceramic Matrix Composite Topology on Friction Factor and Heat Transfer

Ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) are of interest for hot section components of gas turbine engines due to their low weight and favorable thermal properties. To implement this advanced composite in a gas turbine engine, characterizing the influence of CMC’s surface topology on heat transfer and cooling performance is critical. However, very few published studies have reported the flow and heat transfer effects caused by this unique surface topology. This study is an experimental and computational investigation to evaluate the effect of weave orientations, relevant to CMC surfaces, on the resulting pressure loss and convective heat transfer within an internal channel. The weave pattern was additively manufactured as the walls of a scaled-up coupon containing a single channel. For each of the three weave orientations, bulk pressure losses and convective heat transfer coefficients were measured over a range of Reynolds numbers. Scaling the pressure losses in terms of a friction factor and convective heat transfer coefficients in terms of a Nusselt number showed the importance of choosing the appropriate definition of the hydraulic diameter, which was particularly important for the friction factor. A coupon having one wall with the weave surface increased pressure loss and heat transfer compared to a smooth wall with the largest increases occurring when the CMC weave strands were perpendicular to the flow. Friction factor augmentations were much higher than heat transfer augmentations. When adding the weave to a second channel wall, pressure loss and heat transfer were further increased. Orienting the CMC strands perpendicular to the flow consistently showed the largest augmentations in heat transfer over a smooth channel, but at a much higher pressure loss penalty than that seen with the CMC strands parallel to the flow.

Numerical Investigation On The Impingement Of A Circular Jet Of Nanofluids On A Circular Flat Plate

A numerical study was conducted to investigate and validate experimental convective heat transfer coefficient data associated with an Al2O3-H2O nanofluid through the use of an impingement jet on a flat, circular disk. It was observed that, in conjunction with experimental data, nanofluids provided increased local convective heat transfer coefficients in comparison to the base fluid. Nanofluid concentrations outlined in the experimental model, from 0.0198 to 0.0757 wt%, were investigated in a numerical model and resulting convective heat transfer coefficients were compared. In contrast to the experimental model, the maximum heat transfer enhancement occurred at the nanofluid concentration of 0.0757 wt%. In addition, several other models were tested with various Reynolds numbers and jet height-to-jet diameter ratios for further investigation along with discussion of sources of error. Overall, in comparison to experimental data, the lowest percentage errors achieved for the Reynolds numbers of 4245.7 and 8282 were 17.9% and 34.9%, respectively.

Numerical Investigation On The Impingement Of A Circular Jet Of Nanofluids On A Circular Flat Plate

A numerical study was conducted to investigate and validate experimental convective heat transfer coefficient data associated with an Al2O3-H2O nanofluid through the use of an impingement jet on a flat, circular disk. It was observed that, in conjunction with experimental data, nanofluids provided increased local convective heat transfer coefficients in comparison to the base fluid. Nanofluid concentrations outlined in the experimental model, from 0.0198 to 0.0757 wt%, were investigated in a numerical model and resulting convective heat transfer coefficients were compared. In contrast to the experimental model, the maximum heat transfer enhancement occurred at the nanofluid concentration of 0.0757 wt%. In addition, several other models were tested with various Reynolds numbers and jet height-to-jet diameter ratios for further investigation along with discussion of sources of error. Overall, in comparison to experimental data, the lowest percentage errors achieved for the Reynolds numbers of 4245.7 and 8282 were 17.9% and 34.9%, respectively.

Effects of Jet Impingement on Convective Heat Transfer in Effusion Holes

A common design for cooling the combustor liner of gas turbines is a double wall composed of impingement jets that feed effusion cooling holes. An important cooling mechanism associated with the effusion hole is the convective cooling provided to the liner wall, which is in contact with the hot main gas flowing through the combustor. While the combination of impingement jets and effusion holes has been studied earlier, mostly in terms of cooling effectiveness, investigators have not fully evaluated the effect the impingement jet has on the local internal convection within the effusion hole. This study evaluates the detailed effects of the impingement geometry on the local convective heat transfer coefficients within the effusion hole, which provides insights as to the design decisions for cooling combustor liners. Using a scaled-up, 3D-printed effusion hole with a constant heat flux boundary condition, local convective heat transfer coefficients were measured for a range of impingement geometries and positions relative to the effusion holes. Results showed a strong influence on the convective heat transfer resulting from the placement of the impingement hole relative to the effusion hole. In particular, the results showed a strong sensitivity to the circumferential and radial placement of the impingement jet with little sensitivity to the jet-to-effusion distance.

Numerical study on heat transfer and flow characteristics of nanofluids in a circular tube with trapezoid ribs

This study aims to investigate heat transfer and flow characteristics of ethylene glycol/water (EGW) and CuO–EGW nanofluids in circular tubes with and without trapezoid ribs. Nusselt number and friction factor in tubes with trapezoid ribs are analysed under a constant heat flux by changing rib bottom angles. This study compares the convective heat transfer coefficients of 6 vol.% CuO–EGW nanofluid and base fluid. It is found that under a constant Reynolds number, the Nusselt number and friction factor for CuO–EGW nanofluid and base fluid increase with an increase in the inclination angle. The Nusselt number for the CuO–EGW nanofluid in the tube with 75° rib bottom angle averagely increases by 135.8% compared to that in the smooth tube, and the performance evaluation criterion is 1.64.

Effects of Jet Impingement on Convective Heat Transfer in Effusion Holes

A common design for cooling the combustor liner of gas turbines is a double-wall composed of impingement jets that feed effusion cooling holes. An important cooling mechanism associated with the effusion hole is the convective cooling provided to the liner wall, which is in contact with the hot main gas flowing through the combustor. While the combination of impingement jets and effusion holes have been studied before, mostly in terms of cooling effectiveness, investigators have not fully evaluated the effect the impingement jet has on the local internal convection within the effusion hole. This study evaluates the detailed effects of the impingement geometry on the local convective heat transfer coefficients within the effusion hole, which provides insights as to the design decisions for cooling combustor liners. Using a scaled-up, 3D-printed effusion hole with a constant heat flux boundary condition, local convective heat transfer coefficients were measured for a range of impingement geometries and positions relative to the effusion holes. Results showed a strong influence on the convective heat transfer resulting from the placement of the impingement hole relative to the effusion hole. In particular, the results showed a strong sensitivity to circumferential and radial placement of the impingement jet with little sensitivity to the jet-to-effusion distance.