Cooled airfoil in a turbine engine

摘要

An airfoil in a gas turbine engine includes an outer wall and an inner wall. The outer wall includes a leading edge, a trailing edge opposed from the leading edge in a chordal direction, a pressure side, and a suction side. The inner wall is coupled to the outer wall at a single chordal location and includes portions spaced from the pressure and suction sides of the outer wall so as to form first and second gaps between the inner wall and the respective pressure and suction sides. The inner wall defines a chamber therein and includes openings that provide fluid communication between the respective gaps and the chamber. The gaps receive cooling fluid that provides cooling to the outer wall as it flows through the gaps. The cooling fluid, after traversing at least substantial portions of the gaps, passes into the chamber through the openings in the inner wall.

主权项

1. An airfoil in a gas turbine engine comprising:
an outer wall including a leading edge, a trailing edge, a pressure side, and a suction side; a first inner wall coupled to said outer wall at a single chordal location toward said leading edge, said first inner wall including portions spaced from said pressure and suction sides of said outer wall so as to form first and second leading edge gaps between said first inner wall and said respective pressure and suction sides, said first inner wall defining a leading edge chamber therein and including openings that provide fluid communication between said respective leading edge gaps and said leading edge chamber, said leading edge gaps receiving cooling fluid, wherein the cooling fluid provides cooling to said outer wall as it flows through said leading edge gaps and the cooling fluid, after traversing at least substantial portions of said leading edge gaps, passing into said leading edge chamber through said openings in said first inner wall; a second inner wall coupled to said outer wall at a single chordal location toward said trailing edge, said second inner wall including portions spaced from said pressure and suction sides of said outer wall so as to form first and second trailing edge gaps between said second inner wall and said respective pressure and suction sides, said second inner wall defining a trailing edge chamber therein and including openings that provide fluid communication between said respective trailing edge gaps and said trailing edge chamber, said trailing edge gaps receiving cooling fluid, wherein the cooling fluid provides cooling to said outer wall as it flows through said trailing edge gaps and the cooling fluid, after traversing at least substantial portions of said trailing edge gaps, passing into said trailing edge chamber through said openings in said second inner wall; wherein said leading and trailing edge chambers are each in communication with a plurality of exit openings that allow cooling fluid to flow out of said leading and trailing edge chambers; and leading and trailing edge channels adjacent to said respective leading and trailing edge chambers, said leading and trailing edge channels receiving the cooling fluid flowing out of said leading and trailing edge chambers through said exit openings, wherein the cooling fluid in said leading and trailing edge channels provides cooling to said leading and trailing edges of said outer wall.