Session: 12-02 Film Cooled Rotor Blades

Paper Number: 83216

83216 - Effects of Part-to-Part Flow Variations on Overall Effectiveness and Life of Rotating Turbine Blades 

As firing temperatures in gas turbine engines continue to increase to achieve higher efficiency, components in the main gas path must be protected with cooling flows to ensure component life targets are met. Manufacturing variations, however, influence the performance and life characteristics of components with the same nominal design. This study presents blade flow and overall cooling effectiveness measurements for nine true-scale, aero engine turbine blades with realistic manufacturing variations. Flow measurements were made through each blade at a fixed pressure ratio to determine flow variability between holes and between blades. Infrared thermography was used to capture spatially-resolved measurements of overall effectiveness on the same nine blades under high-speed rotating conditions at the Steady Thermal Aero Research Turbine Laboratory. Thermal performance was correlated with blade flow performance indicating substantial blade-to-blade variations resulting from manufacturing differences. Measurements also indicated wide variations in cooling jet trajectories as well as overall cooling effectiveness. Finally, the observed blade-to-blade variations in effectiveness were scaled to engine conditions, with lifing estimates showing some blades would be expected to last only half as long as others due to manufacturing variability. This study demonstrates the need to account for the effects of manufacturing variations in the turbine design process.

Presenting Author: Brian Knisely Pennsylvania State University

Presenting Author Biography: Brian Knisely received his PhD in mechanical engineering from Penn State in 2021. His research focused on the use of infrared imaging applied to study rotating turbine blades at engine relevant conditions. Currently he works at Carrier Corporation in Syracuse, New York as a research and development engineer focusing on fan and air management systems for HVAC applications.

Authors:

Brian Knisely Pennsylvania State University
Reid Berdanier Pennsylvania State University
Joel Wagner Pennsylvania State University
Karen Thole Pennsylvania State University
Allan Arisi Pratt & Whitney
Charles Haldeman Pratt & Whitney