Multi-turn cooling circuits for turbine blades

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10309227-B2
Application number	US-201615334563-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 26, 2016
Priority date	Oct 26, 2016
Publication date	Jun 4, 2019
Grant date	Jun 4, 2019

Abstract

A trailing edge cooling system for a turbine blade is disclosed. The system may include a cooling circuit including an outward leg, and a return leg positioned adjacent the outward leg. The outward and return leg each may extend toward and away, respectively, from a trailing edge of the turbine blade. The cooling circuit may also include a plurality of turn legs. The plurality of turn legs may include a turn leg positioned directly adjacent the trailing edge of the turbine blade, and a distinct turn leg positioned axially adjacent the turn leg, and opposite the trailing edge of the turbine blade. The distinct turn leg may be oriented non-parallel to at least one of the outward leg and the return leg.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A trailing edge cooling system for a turbine blade, the trailing edge cooling system comprising:
a coolant feed extending radially within the turbine blade;
a collection passage extending radially within the turbine blade, adjacent the coolant feed; and
a cooling circuit in fluid communication with the coolant feed and the collection passage, the cooling circuit including:
an outward leg extending axially toward a trailing edge of the turbine blade, the outward leg in direct fluid communication with the coolant feed;
a return leg positioned adjacent the outward leg and extending axially from the trailing edge of the turbine blade, the return leg in direct fluid communication with the collection passage; and
a plurality of turn legs fluidly coupling the outward leg and the return leg, the plurality of turn legs including:
a first turn leg in direct fluid communication with and extending radially from the outward leg;
a second turn leg in direct fluid communication with the first turn leg, the second turn leg extending axially from the first turn leg toward the trailing edge of the turbine blade; and
a third turn leg extending radially through the turbine blade, directly adjacent the trailing edge, the third turn leg in direct fluid communication with the second turn leg and the return leg.

2. The trailing edge cooling system of claim 1 , wherein the third turn leg of the plurality of turn legs is substantially parallel to the trailing edge of the turbine blade.

3. The trailing edge cooling system of claim 1 , wherein the third turn leg extends substantially parallel to the first turn leg of the plurality of turn legs.

4. The trailing edge cooling system of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the third turn leg of the plurality of turn legs extends radially above the outward leg.

5. The trailing edge cooling system of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the third turn leg of the plurality of turn legs extends radially below the second turn leg.

6. The trailing edge cooling system of claim 1 , wherein the third turn leg of the plurality of turn legs includes an outer wall positioned at least one of:
directly adjacent to the trailing edge of the turbine blade, and
substantially parallel to the trailing edge of the turbine blade.

7. A turbine blade comprising:
a trailing edge cooling system disposed within the turbine blade, the trailing edge cooling system including:
a coolant feed extending radially within the turbine blade;
a collection passage extending radially within the turbine blade, adjacent the coolant feed; and
a plurality of cooling circuits extending at least partially along a radial length of a trailing edge of the turbine blade, each of the plurality of cooling circuits in direct fluid communication with the coolant feed and the collection passage and each of the plurality of cooling circuits including:
an outward leg extending axially toward the trailing edge of the turbine blade, the outward leg in direct fluid communication with the coolant feed;
a return leg positioned adjacent the outward leg and extending axially from the trailing edge of the turbine blade, the return leg in direct fluid communication with the collection passage; and
a plurality of turn legs fluidly coupling the outward leg and the return leg, the plurality of turn legs including:
a turn leg positioned directly adjacent the trailing edge of the turbine blade; and
a distinct turn leg positioned axially adjacent the turn leg, opposite the trailing edge of the turbine blade, the distinct turn leg oriented non-parallel to at least one of the outward leg and the return leg.

8. The turbine blade of claim 7 , wherein the turn leg of each of the plurality of cooling circuits is substantially parallel to the trailing edge of the turbine blade.

9. The turbine blade of claim 7 , wherein the turn leg of each of the plurality of cooling circuits extends substantially parallel to the distinct turn leg of the cooling circuit.

10. The turbine blade of claim 7 , wherein the turn leg of each of the plurality of cooling circuits includes an outer wall positioned at least one of:
directly adjacent to the trailing edge of the turbine blade, and
substantially parallel to the trailing edge of the turbine blade.

11. The turbine blade of claim 7 , wherein the turn leg of each of the plurality of cooling circuits is in direct fluid communication with one of:
the outward leg, or
the return leg.

12. A trailing edge cooling system for a turbine blade, the trailing edge cooling system comprising:
a coolant feed extending radially within the turbine blade;
a collection passage extending radially within the turbine blade, adjacent the coolant feed; and
a cooling circuit in fluid communication with the coolant feed and the collection passage, the cooling circuit including:
an outward leg extending axially toward a trailing edge of the turbine blade, the outward leg in direct fluid communication with the coolant feed;
a return leg positioned adjacent the outward leg and extending axially from the trailing edge of the turbine blade, the return leg in direct fluid communication with the collection passage; and
a plurality of turn legs fluidly coupling the outward leg and the return leg, the plurality of turn legs including:
a first turn leg in direct fluid communication with and extending radially from the outward leg, the first turn leg extending directly adjacent the trailing edge;
a second turn leg in direct fluid communication with the first turn leg, the second turn leg extending axially from the first turn leg and away from the trailing edge of the turbine blade; and
a third turn leg extending radially from the second turn leg, the third turn leg in direct fluid communication with the second turn leg and the return leg.

13. The trailing edge cooling system of claim 12 , wherein the first turn leg of the plurality of turn legs is substantially parallel to the trailing edge of the turbine blade.

14. The trailing edge cooling system of claim 12 , wherein the third turn leg extends substantially parallel to the first turn leg of the plurality of turn legs.

15. The trailing edge cooling system of claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of the first turn leg of the plurality of turn legs extends radially below the return leg.

16. The trailing edge cooling system of claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of the first turn leg of the plurality of turn legs extends radially above the second turn leg.

17. The trailing edge cooling system of claim 12 , wherein the first turn leg of the plurality of turn legs includes an outer wall positioned at least one of:
directly adjacent to the trailing edge of the turbine blade, and
substantially parallel to the trailing edge of the turbine blade.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Weber David Wayne
• Dutta Sandip

Classifications

• F05D2240/304

  related to the trailing edge of a rotor blade · CPC title

• F01D9/026

  Scrolls for radial machines or engines · CPC title

• F01D5/185

  Liquid cooling (F01D5/181 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F01D5/18 Primary

  Hollow blades, {i.e. blades with cooling or heating channels or cavities (structure of hollow blades in general F01D5/147)}; Heating, heat-insulating or cooling means on blades · CPC title

• F01D5/186

  Film cooling (F01D5/187 takes precedence) · CPC title