Varying geometries for cooling circuits of turbine blades

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10450875-B2
Application number	US-201615334585-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 26, 2016
Priority date	Oct 26, 2016
Publication date	Oct 22, 2019
Grant date	Oct 22, 2019

Abstract

Various geometries for a trailing edge cooling system for a turbine blade. The trailing edge cooling system may include a plurality of cooling circuits extending at least partially along a radial length of a trailing edge of the turbine blade. Each cooling circuit may include an outward leg extending axially toward the trailing edge, and a plurality of turn legs in fluid communication with the outward leg. The plurality of turn legs may be positioned adjacent the trailing edge. Each cooling circuit may also include a return leg positioned adjacent the outward leg and extending axially from the trailing edge. The return leg may include a first portion and a second portion. The first portion may have a first width, and a second may have a second width that is greater than the first width of the first portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A trailing edge cooling system for a turbine blade, the trailing edge cooling system comprising:
a collection passage extending radially through the turbine blade;
a coolant feed extending radially through the turbine blade, adjacent the collection passage; 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 positioned axially between the trailing edge and each of the collection passage and the coolant feed, and including:
an outward leg extending axially from the coolant feed, toward the trailing edge of the turbine blade, the outward leg in direct fluid communication with the coolant feed;
a plurality of turn legs in direct fluid communication with the outward leg, the plurality of turn legs positioned adjacent the trailing edge of the turbine blade; and
a return leg positioned adjacent the outward leg and extending axially from the trailing edge of the turbine blade to the collection passage, the return leg in direct fluid communication with the collection passage and including:
a first portion in direct fluid communication with the plurality of turn legs, the first portion having a first width; and
a second portion in direct fluid communication with the first portion and the collection passage, the second portion having a second width that is greater than the first width of the first portion.

2. The trailing edge cooling system of claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the return leg extends radially below the first portion of the return leg.

3. The trailing edge cooling system of claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the return leg is positioned radially below the outward leg.

4. The trailing edge cooling system of claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the return leg is radially aligned with the outward leg.

5. The trailing edge cooling system of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the return leg is radially aligned with the plurality of turn legs.

6. The trailing edge cooling system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cooling circuits includes:
a first cooling circuit; and
a second cooling circuit positioned radially below the first cooling circuit, the second portion of the return leg of the first cooling circuit positioned axially adjacent the plurality of turn legs of the second cooling circuit.

7. The trailing edge cooling system of claim 6 , wherein the second portion of the return leg of the first cooling circuit is positioned radially above and aligned with the outward leg of the second cooling circuit.

8. The trailing edge cooling system of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one obstruction formed in the second portion of the return leg.

9. A trailing edge cooling system for a turbine blade, the trailing edge cooling system comprising:
a collection passage extending radially through the turbine blade;
a coolant feed extending radially through the turbine blade, adjacent the collection passage; 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 positioned axially between the trailing edge and each of the collection passage and the coolant feed, and including:
an outward leg extending axially from the coolant feed, toward and substantially perpendicular to a trailing edge of the turbine blade, the outward leg in direct fluid communication with the coolant feed and having a width;
a return leg positioned adjacent the outward leg and extending axially from and substantially perpendicular to the trailing edge of the turbine blade toward the collection passage, the return leg in direct fluid communication with the collection passage; and
a plurality of turn legs in direct fluid communication with the outward leg and the return leg, the plurality of turn legs including:
a first turn leg in fluid communication with the outward leg, the first turn leg having a length equal to the width of the outward leg;
a second turn leg in direct fluid communication with the first turn leg, the second turn leg extending substantially perpendicular from the first turn leg; and
a third turn leg in direct fluid communication with and positioned between the second turn leg and the return leg, the third turn leg extending substantially parallel to the trailing edge of the turbine blade.

10. The trailing edge cooling system of claim 9 , wherein each of the cooling circuits of the plurality of cooling circuits further comprises:
a transition portion positioned between and in fluid communication with the outward leg and the first turn leg of the plurality of turn legs, the transition portion having a width less than the width of the outward leg.

11. The trailing edge cooling system of claim 10 , wherein the outward leg of each cooling circuit of the plurality of cooling circuits further comprises:
an end wall positioned radially above the transition portion and axially adjacent the first turn leg of the plurality of turn legs.

12. The trailing edge cooling system of claim 9 , wherein the outward leg of each cooling circuit of the plurality of cooling circuits further comprises:
a first outer wall extending axially perpendicular to the trailing edge of the turbine blade; and
an inner wall positioned opposite the outer wall and adjacent the return leg.

13. The trailing edge cooling system of claim 12 , wherein the second turn leg of each cooling circuit of the plurality of cooling circuits further comprises:
a second outer wall extending axially perpendicular to the trailing edge of the turbine blade, the second outer wall of second turn leg in axial alignment with the first outer wall of the outward leg.

14. The trailing edge cooling system of claim 12 , wherein the inner wall of the outward leg of each cooling circuit of the plurality of cooling circuits further comprises a first contoured portion.

15. The trailing edge cooling system of claim 14 , wherein the first turn leg of each cooling circuit of the plurality of cooling circuits further comprises a first curved portion positioned adjacent the contoured portion of the inner wall of the outer leg.

16. The trailing edge cooling system of claim 15 , wherein the third turn leg of each cooling circuit of the plurality of cooling circuits further comprises a second curved portion positioned adjacent the first curved portion of the first turn leg, the second curved portion of the third turn leg corresponding to the first curved portion of the first turn leg.

17. The trailing edge cooling system of claim 14 , wherein the return leg of each cooling circuit of the plurality of cooling circuits comprises a second contoured portion positioned adjacent the first contoured portion of the inner wall of the outward leg, the second contoured portion of the return leg corresponding to the first contoured portion of the inner wall of the outward leg.

18. A trailing edge cooling system for a turbine blade, the trailing edge cooling system comprising:
a collection passage extending radially through the turbine blade;
a coolant feed extending radially through the turbine blade, adjacent the collection passage; 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 positioned axially between the trailing edge and each of the collection passage and the coolant feed, and including:
a first outward leg extending axially from

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Weber David Wayne
• Dutta Sandip
• Leary Brendon James

Classifications

• F05D2240/304

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

• F01D5/187 Primary

  Convection cooling · CPC title