Conjugate Heat Transfer Predictions on Combined Impingement and Film Cooling of a Blade Leading Edge Model

Abstract

In this paper, numerical simulation is performed to predict combined impingement and film cooling on a model of the turbine blade leading edge by the heat flow coupling method. The first-stage rotor blade leading edge of the GE-E³ engine high-pressure turbine is adopted for the simulation. The relative performances of turbulence models are compared with experimental data and the results show that standard k-ω model is the best, based on simulation accuracy. The standard k-ω model is adopted for the simulation. A grid independence study is also carried out. Five different mass flow ratios and seven different film cooling hole configurations are studied in detail. The results indicate that (1) the overall film cooling effectiveness on the leading edge surface and the Nusselt number on the target surface increase with increases of coolant mass flow ratio; (2) the blade leading edge temperature decreases with an increase in mass flow ratio; and (3) the area-averaged overall film cooling effectiveness increases with a decrease in spanwise film cooling injection angle, when the injection angle is lower than 25°, while it does not change much otherwise.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The authors are grateful for this work supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51406161) and National Science and Technology Major Project (2017-III-0009-0035).

Notes on contributors

Zhao Liu

Zhao Liu received his Ph.D. with Prof. Zhenping Feng from Xi’an Jiaotong University (XJTU) in 2012. He was a visiting scholar at the Department of Mechanical Engineering at University of Minnesota at Twin Cities in 2014–2015. He is now an associate professor in Shaanxi Engineering Laboratory of Turbomachinery and Power Equipment, Institute of Turbomachinery at XJTU, China. His research has been focused on heat transfer and aerothermodynamics of turbomachinery. He has published 17 first-author journal and international conference papers.

Feng Li

Feng Li is a Ph.D. student in Institute of Turbomachinery at Xi’an Jiaotong University, China, under the supervision of Associate Prof. Zhao Liu. He obtained his Bachelor’s degree in 2018 from School of Energy and Power Engineering at Xi’an Jiaotong University. His research topic is focused on the aerothermodynamics in the gas turbines by experimental and numerical simulation methods, especially the leading edge and tip region of turbine blade.

Zhixin Zhang

Zhixin Zhang is a postgraduate student in the School of Energy and Power Engineering at Xi’an Jiaotong University, China, under the supervision of Associate Prof. Zhao Liu. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in 2017 from Nanchang University. Her major interests are aerothermodynamics in the gas turbines, especially the leading edge of turbine blade.

Zhenping Feng

Zhenping Feng is a professor of Power Engineering & Engineering Thermophysics at Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China. He graduated from Xi’an Jiaotong University in 1982 and received his Ph.D. degree in 1991. He has published more than 150 international journal articles and conference papers in the areas of aerodynamics and heat transfer of turbomachinery. His recent research interests are aerothermodynamics and heat transfer of turbomachinery.

Terrence W. Simon

Terrence W. Simon is Ernst G. Eckert Professor of Mechanical Engineering at University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, USA. He received his Ph.D. degree from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University in 1980. He has published over 300 journal and international conference papers. His major research interests include experiments, computation, and visualization on heat, mass, and momentum transfer in laminar, turbulent, transitional, and unsteady flows, including flows through porous media and processes with phase change. Results of the above topical areas are applied to plasma cutting tools and plasma flow actuators, electronics and optics, Stirling and gas turbine engines, and MW-level grid energy storage systems.