Yao-Hsien Liu

Heat Transfer in Trailing Edge, Wedge-Shaped Cooling Channels Under High Rotation Numbers

Heat transfer coefficients are experimentally measured in a rotating cooling channel used to model an internal cooling passage near the trailing edge of a gas turbine blade. The regionally averaged heat transfer coefficients are measured in a wedge-shaped cooling channel (Dh = 2.22 cm, A c = 7.62 cm 2 ). The Reynolds number of the coolant varies from 10,000 to 40,000. By varying the rotational speed of the channel, the rotation number and buoyancy parameter range from 0 to 1.0 and 0 to 3.5, respectively. Significant variation of the heat transfer coefficients in both the spanwise and streamwise directions is apparent. Spanwise variation is the result of the wedge-shaped design, and streamwise variation is the result of the sharp entrance into the channel and the 180 deg turn at the outlet of the channel. With the channel rotating at 135° with respect to the direction of rotation, the heat transfer coefficients are enhanced on every surface of the channel. Both the nondimensional rotation number and buoyancy parameter have proven to be excellent parameters to quantify the effect of rotation over the extended ranges achieved in this study.

Rib Spacing Effect on Heat Transfer in Rotating Two-Pass Ribbed Channel (AR 1:2)

Rib turbulators are commonly used to enhance the heat transfer within internal cooling passages of advanced gas turbine blades. Many factors affect the thermal performance of a cooling channel with ribs. This study experimentally investigates the effect of rib spacing on the heat transfer enhancement, pressure penalty, and thus the overall thermal performance in both rotating and nonrotating rectangular, cooling channels. In the 1:2 rectangular channels, 45 deg angled ribs are placed on the leading and trailing surfaces. The pitch of the ribs varies, so rib pitch-to-height (P/e) ratios of 10, 7.5, 5, and 3 are considered. Square ribs with a 1.59 mm x 1.59 mm cross section are used for all rib spacing, so the height-to-hydraulic diameter (e/D h ) ratio remains constant at 0.094. With a constant rotational speed of 550 rpm and the Reynolds number ranging from 5000 to 40,000, the rotation number in turn varies from 0.2 to 0.02. Because the skewed turbulators induce secondary flow along the length of the rib, the very close rib spacing of P/e = 3 has the best thermal performance in both rotating and nonrotating channels. This close spacing yields the greatest heat transfer enhancement, whereas the P/e = 5 spacing has the greatest pressure penalty. In addition, the effect of rotation is more pronounced in the channel with the rib spacing of 3. As more ribs are added, the channel is approaching a smooth channel, and the strength of the rotation induced vortices increases.

High Rotation Number Effects on Heat Transfer in a Rectangular (AR=2:1) Two-Pass Channel

This paper experimentally investigated the rotational effects on heat transfer in a smooth two-pass rectangular channel (AR=2: 1), which is applicable to the cooling passages in the midportion of the gas turbine blade. The test channel has radially outward flow in the first passage and radially inward flow in the second passage after a 180 deg sharp turn. In the first passage, the flow is developing and heat transfer is increased compared with the fully developed case. Rotation slightly reduces the heat transfer on the leading surface and increases heat transfer on the trailing surface in the first pass. Heat transfer is highly increased by rotation in the turn portion of the first pass on both leading and trailing surfaces. Rotation increased heat transfer enhancement in the tip region up to a maximum Nu ratio (Nu/Nu s ) of 1.83. In the second passage, under rotating conditions, the leading surface experienced heat transfer enhancements above the stationary case while the trailing surface decreased. The current study has more than four times the range of the rotation number previously achieved for the 2:1 aspect ratio channel. The increased range of the rotation number and buoyancy parameter reached in this study are 0―0.45 and 0―0.8, respectively. The higher rotation number and buoyancy parameter have been correlated very well to predict the rotational heat transfer in the two-pass, 2:1 aspect ratio flow channel.

Heat Transfer in Trailing-Edge Channels with Slot Ejection Under High Rotation Numbers

The regionally averaged heat transfer coefficients were measured in a wedge-shaped channel (D h = 2.22 cm, A c = 7.62 cm 2 ) to model an internal cooling passage near the trailing edge of a gas turbine blade. This test section was configured so that the inlet coolant exhausts through the slots to simulate the trailing-edge ejection. Therefore, the local mass flow rate decreases along the streamwise direction due to the coolant discharging through the slots. The effects of slot ejection enhance heat transfer near the narrow side while decreasing heat transfer on the wide side of the channel at the stationary condition. The inlet Reynolds number of the coolant varies from 10,000 to 40,000, and the rotational speeds vary from 0 to 500 rpm. The inlet rotation number varies from 0 to 1.0. The local rotation number and buoyancy parameter vary by the different rotational speeds and local Reynolds number in each region. Detailed spanwise and streamwise heat transfer distributions are strongly affected by the slot ejection at both the stationary and rotating conditions. This study shows that the rotation number and buoyancy parameter are useful parameters to correlate the effect of rotation on heat transfer in the current study.

Heat Transfer in Leading Edge, Triangular Shaped Cooling Channels With Angled Ribs Under High Rotation Numbers

The gas turbine blade/vane internal cooling is achieved by circulating compressed air through the cooling channels inside the turbine blade. Cooling channel geometries vary to fit the blade profile. This paper experimentally investigated the rotational effects on heat transfer in an equilateral triangular channel (D h =1.83 cm). The triangular shaped channel is applicable to the leading edge of the gas turbine blade. Angled 45 deg ribs are placed on the leading and trailing surfaces of the test section to enhance heat transfer. The rib pitch-to-rib height ratio (P/e) is 8 and the rib height-to-channel hydraulic diameter ratio (e/D h ) is 0.087. Effect of the angled ribs under high rotation numbers and buoyancy parameters is also presented. Results show that due to the radially outward flow, heat transfer is enhanced with rotation on the trailing surface. By varying the Reynolds numbers (10,000-40,000) and the rotational speeds (0-400 rpm), the rotation number and buoyancy parameter reached in this study are 0-0.58 and 0-1.9, respectively. The higher rotation number and buoyancy parameter correlate very well and can be used to predict the rotational heat transfer in the equilateral triangular channel.

Heat Transfer in Trailing Edge Wedge-Shaped Pin-Fin Channels With Slot Ejection Under High Rotation Numbers

The heat transfer characteristics of a rotating pin-fin roughened wedge shaped channel have been studied. The model incorporates ejection through slots machined on the narrower end of the wedge, simulating a rotor blade trailing edge. The copperplate regional average method is used to determine the heat transfer coefficient; pressure taps have been used to estimate the flow discharged through each slot. Tests have been conducted at high rotation (≈ 1 ) and buoyancy (≈ 2) numbers, in a pressurized rotating rig. Reynolds Numbers investigated range from 10,000 to 40,000 and rotational speeds range from 0–400rpm. Pin-fins studied are made of copper as well as non-conducting garolite. Results show high heat transfer coefficients in the proximity of the slot. A significant enhancement in heat transfer due to the pin-fins, compared with a smooth channel is observed. Even the non-conducting pin-fins, indicative of heat transfer on the end-wall show a significant enhancement in the heat transfer coefficient. Results also show a strong rotation effect, increasing significantly the heat transfer coefficient on the trailing surface — and reducing the heat transfer on the leading surface.Copyright

Effect of Rib Spacing on Heat Transfer in a Two-Pass Rectangular Channel (AR=1:4) With a Sharp Entrance at High Rotation Numbers

The focus of the current study was to determine the effects of rib spacing on heat transfer in rotating 1:4 AR channels. In the current study, heat transfer experiments were performed in a two-pass, 1:4 aspect ratio channel, with a sharp bend entrance. The channel leading and trailing walls in the first pass and second pass utilized angled rib turbulators (45° to the mainstream flow). The rib height-to-hydraulic diameter ratio (e/Dh ) was held constant at 0.078. The channel was oriented 90° to the direction of rotation. Three rib pitch-to-rib height ratios (P/e) were studied: P/e = 2.5, 5, and 10. Each ratio was tested at five Reynolds numbers: 10K, 15K, 20K, 30K and 40K. For each Reynolds number, experiments were conducted at five rotational speeds: 0, 100, 200, 300, and 400 rpm. Results showed that the sharp bend entrance has a significant effect on the first pass heat transfer enhancement. In the second pass, the rib spacing and rotation effect are reduced. The P/e = 10 case had the highest heat transfer enhancement based on total area, whereas the P/e = 2.5 had the highest heat transfer enhancement based on the projected area. The current study has extended the range of the rotation number (Ro) and local buoyancy parameter (Box ) for a ribbed 1:4 aspect ratio channel up to 0.65 and 1.5, respectively. Correlations for predicting heat transfer enhancement, due to rotation, in the ribbed (P/e = 2.5, 5, and 10) 1:4 aspect ratio channel, based on the extended range of the rotation number and buoyancy parameter, are presented in the paper.Copyright

Rib Spacing Effect on Heat Transfer and Pressure Loss in a Rotating Two-Pass Rectangular Channel (AR=1:2) With 45-Degree Angled Ribs

Rib turbulators are commonly used to enhance the heat transfer within internal cooling passages of advanced gas turbine blades. Many factors affect the thermal performance of a cooling channel with ribs. This study experimentally investigates the effect of rib spacing on the heat transfer enhancement, pressure penalty, and thus the overall thermal performance in both rotating and non-rotating rectangular, cooling channels. In the 1:2 rectangular channels, 45° angled ribs are placed on the leading and trailing surfaces. The pitch of the ribs varies, so rib pitch-to-height (P/e) ratios of 10, 7.5, 5, and 3 are considered. Square ribs with a 1.59 mm × 1.59 mm cross-section are used for all spacings, so the height-to-hydraulic diameter (e/Dh ) ratio remains constant at 0.094. With a constant rotational speed of 550 rpm and the Reynolds number ranging from 5000 to 40000, the rotation number in turn varies from 0.2 to 0.02. Because the skewed turbulators induce secondary flow along the length of the rib, the very close rib spacing of P/e = 3, has the best thermal performance in both rotating and non-rotating channels. This close spacing yields the greatest heat transfer enhancement, while the P/e = 5 spacing has the greatest pressure penalty. In addition, the effect of rotation is more pronounced in the channel with the rib spacing of 3. As more ribs are added, the channel is approaching a smooth channel, and the strength of the rotation induced vortices increases.Copyright

High Rotation Number Effect on Heat Transfer in a Triangular Channel With 45 deg, Inverted 45 deg, and 90 deg Ribs

Heat transfer and pressure drop have been experimentally investigated in an equilateral triangular channel (D h =1.83 cm), which can be used to simulate the internal cooling passage near the leading edge of a gas turbine blade. Three different rib configurations (45 deg, inverted 45 deg, and 90 deg) were tested at four different Reynolds numbers (10,000-40,000), each with five different rotational speeds (0―400 rpm). The rib pitch-to-height (Ple) ratio is 8 and the height-to-hydraulic diameter (e/D h ) ratio is 0.087 for every rib configuration. The rotation number and buoyancy parameter achieved in this study were 0―0.58 and 0―2.3, respectively. Both the rotation number and buoyancy parameter have been correlated with predict the rotational heat transfer in the ribbed equilateral triangular channel. For the stationary condition, staggered 45 deg angled ribs show the highest heat transfer enhancement. However, staggered 45 deg angled ribs and 90 deg ribs have the higher comparable heat transfer enhancement at rotating condition near the blade leading edge region.

High Rotation Number Effect on Heat Transfer in a Triangular Channel With 45°, Inverted 45°, and 90° Ribs

Heat transfer and pressure drop have been experimentally investigated in an equilateral triangular channel (Dh = 1.83cm), which can be used to simulate the internal cooling passage near the leading edge of a gas turbine blade. Three different rib configurations (45°, inverted 45°, and 90°) were tested at four different Reynolds numbers (10000–40000), each with five different rotational speeds (0–400 rpm). The rib pitch-to-height (P/e) ratio is 8 and the height-to-hydraulic diameter (e/Dh ) ratio is 0.087 for every rib configuration. The rotation number and buoyancy parameter achieved in this study were 0–0.58 and 0–2.3, respectively. Both the rotation number and buoyancy parameter have been correlated to predict the rotational heat transfer in the ribbed equilateral triangular channel. For the stationary condition, staggered 45° angled ribs show the highest heat transfer enhancement. However, staggered 45° angled ribs and 90° ribs have the higher comparable heat transfer enhancement at rotating condition near the blade leading edge region.Copyright