Process and apparatus for cooling a metal part during a welding operation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9527169-B2
Application number	US-71184107-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 27, 2007
Priority date	Feb 27, 2007
Publication date	Dec 27, 2016
Grant date	Dec 27, 2016

Abstract

A process and apparatus are provided for cooling an airfoil of a blade during a welding repair operation on the airfoil. At least one polymeric pouch is positioned adjacent a surface of the airfoil, and a coolant fluid is passed through the polymeric pouch during the repair operation on the airfoil.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for cooling a metal part during a welding operation comprising:
at least one polymeric pouch configured so as to be positioned adjacent a surface of the metal part and capable of receiving a coolant fluid; and
a cooling system adapted to circulate the coolant fluid through said at least one polymeric pouch such that energy in a form of heat is transferred from the metal part during a welding repair operation, through said at least one polymeric pouch to said coolant fluid.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said cooling system comprises:
a chiller unit;
conduit structure extending from said chiller unit to said at least one polymeric pouch for defining a path for the coolant fluid to travel from said chiller unit to said at least one polymeric pouch and, after passing through said at least one polymeric pouch, back to said chiller unit; and
wherein said chiller unit is adapted to remove energy in a form of heat from the coolant fluid.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a support structure comprising a base adapted to rest on a platform of a blade defining the metal part and at least one shelf for supporting said at least one polymeric pouch.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said at least one polymeric pouch comprises first and second polymeric pouches adapted to be positioned on opposing side surfaces of the metal part, said first and second polymeric pouches being associated with said cooling system.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the metal part comprises an airfoil of a blade and said surface comprises one of a pressure side and a suction side of said airfoil.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein said support structure further comprises a shield positioned near a tip of an airfoil of the blade to protect the at least one polymeric pouch during a welding repair operation on the tip.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising a support structure comprising a base adapted to rest on a platform of a blade defining the metal part and first and second shelves for supporting respectively said first and second polymeric pouches.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said first shelf includes a curved surface having a contour that follows a contour of a corresponding side surface of an airfoil of the blade.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said support structure further comprises a shield positioned near a tip of the airfoil to protect the first and second polymeric pouches during a welding repair operation on the tip.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said support structure further comprises coupling structure for coupling said base, said first and second shelves and said shield to one another.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising structure for connecting said first polymeric pouch to at least one of said first shelf and said coupling structure and for connecting said second polymeric pouch to at least one of said second shelf and said coupling structure.

12. An apparatus for cooling an airfoil of a blade during a welding operation comprising:
at least one polymeric pouch configured so as to be positioned adjacent a surface of the airfoil and capable of receiving a coolant fluid; and
a cooling system adapted to circulate the coolant fluid through said at least one polymeric pouch such that energy in a form of heat is transferred from the airfoil during a welding repair operation, through said at least one polymeric pouch to said coolant fluid.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein said surface comprises one of a pressure side and a suction side.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein said cooling system comprises:
a chiller unit;
conduit structure extending from said chiller unit to said at least one polymeric pouch for defining a path for the coolant fluid to travel from said chiller unit to said at least one polymeric pouch and, after passing through said at least one polymeric pouch, back to said chiller unit; and
wherein said chiller unit is adapted to remove energy in a form of heat from the coolant fluid.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising a support structure comprising a base adapted to rest on a platform of the blade and at least one shelf for supporting said at least one polymeric pouch.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein said at least one polymeric pouch comprises first and second polymeric pouches adapted to be positioned on the respective pressure and suction sides of the airfoil, said first and second polymeric pouches being associated with said cooling system.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein said support structure further comprises a shield positioned near a tip of the airfoil to protect the at least one polymeric pouch during a welding repair operation on the tip.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 , further comprising a support structure comprising a base adapted to rest on a platform of the blade and first and second shelves for supporting respectively said first and second polymeric pouches.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein:
said first shelf includes a curved surface having a contour that follows a contour of the pressure side of the airfoil;
said support structure further comprises a shield positioned near a tip of the airfoil to protect said first and second polymeric pouches during a welding repair operation on the tip; and
said support structure further comprises coupling structure for coupling said base, said first and second shelves and said shield to one another.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , further comprising structure for connecting said first polymeric pouch to at least one of said first shelf and said coupling structure and for connecting said second polymeric pouch to at least one of said second shelf and said coupling structure.

Assignees

• Morin James
• Siemens Energy Inc

Inventors

• Morin James

Classifications

• B23K2101/001

  Turbines · CPC title

• F28F21/06

  of plastics material · CPC title

• F28F9/007

  Auxiliary supports for elements · CPC title

• F28D15/00

  Heat-exchange apparatus with the intermediate heat-transfer medium in closed tubes passing into or through the conduit walls {; Heat-exchange apparatus employing intermediate heat-transfer medium or bodies (F28D17/00, F28D19/00, F28D20/00 take precedence)} · CPC title

• F05D2220/32

  in gas turbines · CPC title