Numerical Optimization, Characterization, and Experimental Investigation of Additively Manufactured Communicating Microchannels

2018 ◽  
Vol 140 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn L. Kirsch ◽  
Karen A. Thole
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Experimental Investigation ◽  
Pressure Loss ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Transport Systems ◽  
Optimized Design ◽  
Internal Cooling ◽  
Natural Systems ◽  
Flow And Heat Transfer ◽  
Successful Replication

The degree of complexity in internal cooling designs is tied to the capabilities of the manufacturing process. Additive manufacturing (AM) grants designers increased freedom while offering adequate reproducibility of microsized, unconventional features that can be used to cool the skin of gas turbine components. One such desirable feature can be sourced from nature; a common characteristic of natural transport systems is a network of communicating channels. In an effort to create an engineered design that utilizes the benefits of those natural systems, the current study presents wavy microchannels that were connected using branches. Two different wavelength baseline configurations were designed; then each was numerically optimized using a commercial adjoint-based method. Three objective functions were posed to (1) minimize pressure loss, (2) maximize heat transfer, and (3) maximize the ratio of heat transfer to pressure loss. All baseline and optimized microchannels were manufactured using laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) for experimental investigation; pressure loss and heat transfer data were collected over a range of Reynolds numbers. The AM process reproduced the desired optimized geometries faithfully. Surface roughness, however, strongly influenced the experimental results; successful replication of the intended flow and heat transfer performance was tied to the optimized design intent. Even still, certain test coupons yielded performances that correlated well with the simulation results.

Numerical Optimization, Characterization, and Experimental Investigation of Additively Manufactured Communicating Microchannels

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn L. Kirsch ◽  
Karen A. Thole
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Experimental Investigation ◽  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Manufacturing Process ◽  
Pressure Loss ◽  
Transport Systems ◽  
Optimized Design ◽  
Internal Cooling ◽  
Natural Systems ◽  
Successful Replication

The degree of complexity in internal cooling designs is tied to the capabilities of the manufacturing process. Additive manufacturing grants designers increased freedom while offering adequate reproducibility of micro-sized, unconventional features that can be used to cool the skin of gas turbine components. One such desirable feature can be sourced from nature; a common characteristic of natural transport systems is a network of communicating channels. In an effort to create an engineered design that utilizes the benefits of those natural systems, the current study presents wavy microchannels that were connected using branches. Two different wavelength baseline configurations were designed, then each were numerically optimized using a commercial adjoint-based method. Three objective functions were posed to (1) minimize pressure loss, (2) maximize heat transfer, and (3) maximize the ratio of heat transfer to pressure loss. All baseline and optimized microchannels were manufactured using Laser Powder Bed Fusion for experimental investigation; pressure loss and heat transfer data were collected over a range of Reynolds numbers. The additive manufacturing process reproduced the desired optimized geometries faithfully. Surface roughness, however, strongly influenced the experimental results; successful replication of the intended flow and heat transfer performance was tied to the optimized design intent. Even still, certain test coupons yielded performances that correlated well with the simulation results.

Large-Eddy Simulation With Zonal Near Wall Treatment of Flow and Heat Transfer in a Ribbed Duct for the Internal Cooling of Turbine Blades

2013 ◽  
Vol 135 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunil Patil ◽  
Danesh Tafti
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Turbine Blades ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Large Eddy Simulations ◽  
Internal Cooling ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Flow And Heat Transfer ◽  
Turbulent Statistics ◽  
Large Eddy ◽  
Near Wall

Large eddy simulations of flow and heat transfer in a square ribbed duct with rib height to hydraulic diameter of 0.1 and 0.05 and rib pitch to rib height ratio of 10 and 20 are carried out with the near wall region being modeled with a zonal two layer model. A novel formulation is used for solving the turbulent boundary layer equation for the effective tangential velocity in a generalized co-ordinate system in the near wall zonal treatment. A methodology to model the heat transfer in the zonal near wall layer in the large eddy simulations (LES) framework is presented. This general approach is explained for both Dirichlet and Neumann wall boundary conditions. Reynolds numbers of 20,000 and 60,000 are investigated. Predictions with wall modeled LES are compared with the hydrodynamic and heat transfer experimental data of (Rau et al. 1998, “The Effect of Periodic Ribs on the Local Aerodynamic and Heat Transfer Performance of a Straight Cooling Channel,”ASME J. Turbomach., 120, pp. 368–375). and (Han et al. 1986, “Measurement of Heat Transfer and Pressure Drop in Rectangular Channels With Turbulence Promoters,” NASA Report No. 4015), and wall resolved LES data of Tafti (Tafti, 2004, “Evaluating the Role of Subgrid Stress Modeling in a Ribbed Duct for the Internal Cooling of Turbine Blades,” Int. J. Heat Fluid Flow 26, pp. 92–104). Friction factor, heat transfer coefficient, mean flow as well as turbulent statistics match available data closely with very good accuracy. Wall modeled LES at high Reynolds numbers as presented in this paper reduces the overall computational complexity by factors of 60–140 compared to resolved LES, without any significant loss in accuracy.

Computation of Flow and Heat Transfer of a Blade Internal Cooling Passage With Truncated V-Shaped Ribs on Opposite Walls

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shian Li ◽  
Gongnan Xie ◽  
Weihong Zhang ◽  
Bengt Sundén
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Inlet Temperature ◽  
Internal Cooling ◽  
Turbine Engine ◽  
Flow And Heat Transfer ◽  
Cooling Passage ◽  
Internal Cooling Passage

The inlet temperature of gas turbine engine is continuously increased to achieve higher thermal efficiency and power output. To prevent from the temperature exceeding the melting point of the blade material, ribs are commonly used in the mid-section of internal blade to augment the heat transfer from blade wall to the coolant. In this study, turbulent flow and heat transfer of a rectangular cooling passage with continuous or truncated 45-deg V-shaped ribs on opposite walls have been investigated numerically. The inlet Reynolds numbers are ranging from 12,000 to 60,000 and the low-Re k-ε model is selected for the turbulent computations. The complex three-dimensional fluid flow in the internal coolant passages and the corresponding heat transfer over the side-walls and rib-walls are presented and the thermal performances of the ribbed passages are compared as well. It is shown that the passage with truncated V-shaped ribs on opposite walls is very effective in improving the heat transfer performance with a low pressure loss, and thus could be suggested to be applied to gas turbine blade internal cooling.

Flow and Heat Transfer in the Tip-Turn Region of a U-Duct Under Rotating and Non-Rotating Conditions

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.-Y. Hu ◽  
X. Chi ◽  
T. I.-P. Shih ◽  
K. M. Bryden ◽  
M. K. Chyu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Aspect Ratio ◽  
Computational Study ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Coolant Temperature ◽  
Internal Cooling ◽  
Wall Functions ◽  
Flow And Heat Transfer ◽  
Aspect Ratios ◽  
Turn Region

CFD simulations were performed to study the flow and heat transfer in a U-duct, relevant to internal cooling of the first-stage turbine component in electric-power-generation, gas-turbine engines. Parameters studied include (1) two aspect ratios of the duct cross section, i.e. H/W = 1 and H/W = 0.25; (2) smooth duct and duct lined with pin fins of height H arranged in a staggered fashion; and (3) two rotational speeds: 0 rpm and 3,600 rpm. In all cases, the wall temperature is 1173 K; the coolant temperature at the U-duct inlet is 623 K; and the back pressure at the exit of the U-duct is 25.17 atm. The Reynolds numbers studied are 150,000 for the duct with the 4-to-1 aspect ratio, and 150,000 and 375,000 for the duct with the 1-to-1 aspect ratio. When there is rotation at 3,600 rpm, the rotational numbers corresponding to these Reynolds numbers and duct aspect ratios are 0.592, 1.64, and 4.11, respectively. Result is presented to show the nature of the flow, the temperature distribution, and the surface heat transfer with focus on the flow and heat transfer in the tip-turn region as a function of the parameters investigated. This computational study is based on 3-D steady RANS. The ensemble-averaged continuity, compressible Navier-Stokes, and energy equations were closed by the thermally perfect equation of state with temperature-dependent gas properties and the two-equation realizeable k-ε turbulence model with and without wall functions.

An Experimental and Numerical Study of Heat Transfer and Pressure Loss in a Rectangular Channel With V-Shaped Ribs

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Maurer ◽  
Jens von Wolfersdorf ◽  
Michael Gritsch
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Heat Transfer Enhancement ◽  
Thermal Performance ◽  
Pressure Loss ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Rectangular Channel ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Transfer Enhancement ◽  
High Reynolds Numbers ◽  
High Reynolds

An experimental and numerical study was conducted to determine the thermal performance of V-shaped ribs in a rectangular channel with an aspect ratio of 2:1. Local heat transfer coefficients were measured using the steady state thermochromic liquid crystal technique. Periodic pressure losses were obtained with pressure taps along the smooth channel sidewall. Reynolds numbers from 95,000 to 500,000 were investigated with V-shaped ribs located on one side or on both sides of the test channel. The rib height-to-hydraulic diameter ratios (e/Dh) were 0.0625 and 0.02, and the rib pitch-to-height ratio (P/e) was 10. In addition, all test cases were investigated numerically. The commercial software FLUENT™ was used with a two-layer k-ε turbulence model. Numerically and experimentally obtained data were compared. It was determined that the heat transfer enhancement based on the heat transfer of a smooth wall levels off for Reynolds numbers over 200,000. The introduction of a second ribbed sidewall slightly increased the heat transfer enhancement whereas the pressure penalty was approximately doubled. Diminishing the rib height at high Reynolds numbers had the disadvantage of a slightly decreased heat transfer enhancement, but benefits in a significantly reduced pressure loss. At high Reynolds numbers small-scale ribs in a one-sided ribbed channel were shown to have the best thermal performance.

Heat Transfer for High Aspect Ratio Rectangular Channels in a Stationary Serpentine Passage With Turbulated and Smooth Surfaces

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew A. Smith ◽  
Randall M. Mathison ◽  
Michael G. Dunn
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Aspect Ratio ◽  
Flow Behavior ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Hydraulic Diameter ◽  
Internal Cooling ◽  
Number Range ◽  
Aspect Ratios ◽  
Parallel Configuration

Heat transfer distributions are presented for a stationary three passage serpentine internal cooling channel for a range of engine representative Reynolds numbers. The spacing between the sidewalls of the serpentine passage is fixed and the aspect ratio (AR) is adjusted to 1:1, 1:2, and 1:6 by changing the distance between the top and bottom walls. Data are presented for aspect ratios of 1:1 and 1:6 for smooth passage walls and for aspect ratios of 1:1, 1:2, and 1:6 for passages with two surfaces turbulated. For the turbulated cases, turbulators skewed 45° to the flow are installed on the top and bottom walls. The square turbulators are arranged in an offset parallel configuration with a fixed rib pitch-to-height ratio (P/e) of 10 and a rib height-to-hydraulic diameter ratio (e/Dh) range of 0.100 to 0.058 for AR 1:1 to 1:6, respectively. The experiments span a Reynolds number range of 4,000 to 130,000 based on the passage hydraulic diameter. While this experiment utilizes a basic layout similar to previous research, it is the first to run an aspect ratio as large as 1:6, and it also pushes the Reynolds number to higher values than were previously available for the 1:2 aspect ratio. The results demonstrate that while the normalized Nusselt number for the AR 1:2 configuration changes linearly with Reynolds number up to 130,000, there is a significant change in flow behavior between Re = 25,000 and Re = 50,000 for the aspect ratio 1:6 case. This suggests that while it may be possible to interpolate between points for different flow conditions, each geometric configuration must be investigated independently. The results show the highest heat transfer and the greatest heat transfer enhancement are obtained with the AR 1:6 configuration due to greater secondary flow development for both the smooth and turbulated cases. This enhancement was particularly notable for the AR 1:6 case for Reynolds numbers at or above 50,000.

Experimental Investigation Into the Influence of Varying Stagger on the Performance of a Pin-Fin Array

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. D. Allan ◽  
S. A. Andrews ◽  
M. LaViolette
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Friction Factor ◽  
Pressure Loss ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Design Criterion ◽  
Transfer Enhancement ◽  
Pin Fin ◽  
Line Array ◽  
Array Performance ◽  
Pin Fin Array

A six row pin-fin array was constructed with a spanwise spacing of 2.5 diameters, streamwise spacing of 1.5 diameters and a height to diameter ratio of 1. The streamwise stagger of alternate rows was continuously varied from fully in-line to fully staggered. Tests were carried out at Reynolds numbers of 2.7 × 104 and 2.3 × 104, corresponding to maximum velocities, in the low subsonic range, of 21 m/s and 18 m/s respectively. These results showed that the array averaged heat transfer was greatest from a fully staggered array and had a minimum at a stagger slightly greater than fully in-line. However, with increasing stagger, the array-averaged friction factor grew at a greater rate than the heat transfer. The ensuing analysis of the total array performance, considering both the magnitude of heat transfer and the losses within the array, showed that the fully in-line array had the highest ratio of heat transfer enhancement to friction factor enhancement. Therefore, if pressure loss was a design criterion, the fully in-line array was preferable. However, if pressure loss was not a constraint, then the staggered array was preferable.

Investigating Gas Turbine Internal Cooling Using Supercritical CO2 at High Reynolds Numbers for Direct Fired Cycle Applications

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Searle ◽  
Arnab Roy ◽  
James Black ◽  
Doug Straub ◽  
Sridharan Ramesh
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Nusselt Number ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Cfd Simulation ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Process Conditions ◽  
Internal Cooling ◽  
Air Breathing

Abstract In this paper, experimental and numerical investigations of three variants of internal cooling configurations — dimples only, ribs only and ribs with dimples have been explored at process conditions (96°C and 207bar) with sCO2 as the coolant. The designs were chosen based on a review of advanced internal cooling features typically used for air-breathing gas turbines. The experimental study described in this paper utilizes additively manufactured square channels with the cooling features over a range of Reynolds number from 80,000 to 250,000. Nusselt number is calculated in the experiments utilizing the Wilson Plot method and three heat transfer characteristics — augmentation in Nusselt number, friction factor and overall Thermal Performance Factor (TPF) are reported. To explore the effect of surface roughness introduced due to additive manufacturing, two baseline channel flow cases are considered — a conventional smooth tube and an additively manufactured square tube. A companion computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation is also performed for the corresponding cooling configurations reported in the experiments using the Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) based turbulence model. Both experimental and computational results show increasing Nusselt number augmentation as higher Reynolds numbers are approached, whereas prior work on internal cooling of air-breathing gas turbines predict a decay in the heat transfer enhancement as Reynolds number increases. Comparing cooling features, it is observed that the “ribs only” and “ribs with dimples” configurations exhibit higher Nusselt number augmentation at all Reynolds numbers compared to the “dimples only” and the “no features” configurations. However, the frictional losses are almost an order of magnitude higher in presence of ribs.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document