Multi-Row Film Cooling Performances of a High Lift Blade and Vane

Abstract

This paper investigates the aerodynamic and film cooling effectiveness characteristics of a first stage turbine high lift guide vane and its corresponding downstream blade. The vane and blade geometrical profiles and operating conditions are representative of that normally found in a heavy-duty gas turbine. Both the vane and the blade airfoils consist of multi-row film cooling holes located at various axial positions along the airfoil chord. The film cooling holes are geometrically three-dimensional in shape and depending on the location on the airfoil; they can be either symmetrically fan shaped or non-symmetrically fan shaped. Additionally the film cooling holes can be either compounded or in-line with the external flow direction. Numerical studies and experimental investigations in a linear cascade have been conducted at vane and blade exit isentropic Mach number of 0.8. The influence of the coolant flow ejected from the film cooling holes has been investigated for both the vane and the blade profiles. For the nozzle guide vane, the measured film cooling effectiveness compared well with the predictions, especially on the pressure side. The suction side film cooling effectiveness, which consisted of two pre-throat film rows, proved very effective up-to the suction side trailing edge. For the blade, there was a reasonable comparison between the measured and predicted film cooling effectiveness. Again the blade pre-throat fan shaped cooling holes proved very effective up-to the suction side trailing edge. For the vane, the impact of varying the blowing ratios showed a strong variation in the film cooling effectiveness on the pressure side. However, on the blade, the effect of varying the blowing ratio had a greater impact on the suction side film effectiveness compared to the pressure side.