Effect of Rib Configuration and Lateral Ejection on a High Aspect Ratio Trailing Edge Channel

Abstract

Thermal issues of gas turbine blade trailing edge are complex and challenging, due to limited space for effective cooling. The trailing edge cavities are usually large aspect ratio ducts with lateral ejection. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of different rib configurations and lateral ejection on heat transfer characteristics inside a trailing edge channel. The investigations were conducted on a large aspect ratio wedge-shaped channel with square ribs of e/Dh = 0.05, under Reynolds number 15,000. Twelve different configurations were tested: 1)three rib types, including a symmetry V-shaped rib configuration and two non-symmetry V-shaped rib configurations, of which the rib angles are 60 degrees, 2) two rib pitches, P/e = 10 and P/e = 5, 3) two flow directions, with an open tip outlet or with lateral ejection. Spatially resolved heat transfer distributions were obtained using the transient thermochromic liquid crystal experimental method. The configurations were also investigated numerically for the detailed flow field and for the validation of CFD codes. Results show that with lateral ejection, the heat transfer coefficients decrease from inlet to outlet. The heat transfer near the ejection holes is enhanced while heat transfer coefficients near the wall opposite to the exit holes decrease. The curvature of the streamlines creates a large separation area near the end of the channel and thus results in low local heat transfer coefficients. The P/e = 10 configurations have higher average heat transfer compared with P/e = 5 configurations. Average heat transfer coefficient is the highest with the center of the V-shaped rib placed at the middle of the channel, and is the lowest when the V-shaped rib center is located near the narrow part of the channel.