초록 ▼

Aspects of the present invention relate to hollow elongated turbine engine components, such as transition ducts, having a cooling system. The component can have first and second ends, and can be defined by an outer peripheral wall. The cooling system extends longitudinally within the wall between th

Aspects of the present invention relate to hollow elongated turbine engine components, such as transition ducts, having a cooling system. The component can have first and second ends, and can be defined by an outer peripheral wall. The cooling system extends longitudinally within the wall between the first and second ends. While configured to cool the entire component, the cooling system is particularly configured to reduce thermal gradients that can occur in regions proximate to the first and second ends of the component caused by higher loads in those regions. The cooling system can include at least one pair of cooling channels. Each channel pair includes a first channel and a second channel. The first and second channels can be arranged such that a coolant supplied to each channel can exchange heat with itself in at least the region substantially proximate to one of the ends.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A turbine engine component comprising:an elongated hollow turbine engine component having a first end and a second end, the component defined by an outer peripheral wall;at least one pair of cooling channels extending longitudinally within the outer peripheral wall between the first and second en

1. A turbine engine component comprising:an elongated hollow turbine engine component having a first end and a second end, the component defined by an outer peripheral wall;at least one pair of cooling channels extending longitudinally within the outer peripheral wall between the first and second ends, the at least one pair of cooling channels including a first channel and a second channel;the first channel beginning in a longitudinally central region of the component and extending toward the second end of the component thereby defining a first coolant supply leg, the first coolant supply leg transitioning into a redirect leg wherein the first channel reverses direction in a region substantially proximate to the second end so as to extend back toward and terminate in the longitudinally central region thereby defining a first coolant return leg, wherein the first coolant supply leg is substantially adjacent to the first coolant return leg in at least the region substantially proximate to the second end, whereby a coolant supplied to the first channel exchanges heat with at least itself in at least the region substantially proximate to the second end;the second channel beginning in a longitudinally central region of the component and extending toward the first end of the component thereby defining a second coolant supply leg, the second coolant supply leg transitioning into a redirect leg wherein the second channel reverses direction in a region substantially proximate to the first end so as to extend back toward and terminate in the longitudinally central region thereby defining a second coolant return leg, wherein the second coolant supply leg is substantially adjacent to the second coolant return leg in at least the region substantially proximate to the first end, whereby a coolant supplied to the second channel exchanges heat with at least itself in at least the region substantially proximate to the first end;wherein at least a portion of the first coolant return leg is substantially adjacent to at least a portion of the second coolant supply leg, whereby heat transfer occurs between a coolant in the first coolant return leg and coolant in the adjacent portions of the second coolant supply leg. 2. The component of claim 1 wherein the component includes coolant entry and exit passages, the coolant entry passages extending through the outer peripheral wall of the component and into the supply leg of the first and second channels, the coolant exit passages extending between the outer peripheral wall of the component and the return leg of the first and second channels.3. The component of claim 1 wherein the first coolant supply leg begins substantially proximate to the beginning of the second coolant supply leg, both the first and second coolant supply legs begin closer to the second end of the component.4. The component of claim 1 wherein the first coolant return leg terminates substantially proximate to the ending of the second coolant return leg, both the first and second coolant return legs begin closer to the first end of the component.5. The component of claim 1 wherein the first and second channels are substantially rectangular in cross-section.6. The component of claim 1 wherein the first and second channels are substantially semi-circular in cross-section.7. The component of claim 1 wherein the first coolant supply leg is shorter than the first coolant return leg, the second coolant supply leg is longer than the second coolant return leg.8. The turbine engine component of claim 1 wherein the turbine engine component is a transition.9. The turbine engine component of claim 1 wherein the first and second redirect legs are substantially 180 degree turns.10. A cooled transition for a turbine engine comprising:an elongated tube having an inlet end and an outlet end, the tube defined by an outer peripheral wall; a plurality of substantially peripherally adjacent cooling channel sets extending longitudinally within the wall of the tube between the inlet end and the outlet end, each channel set including a first channel and a second channel;the first channel beginning in a longitudinally central region of the tube and extending toward the outlet end of the tube thereby defining a first coolant supply leg, the first coolant supply leg transitioning into a redirect leg wherein the first channel reverses direction in a region substantially proximate to the outlet end so as to extend back toward and terminate in the longitudinally central region thereby defining a first coolant return leg, wherein the first coolant supply leg is substantially adjacent to the first coolant return leg in at least the region substantially proximate to the outlet end, whereby a coolant supplied to the first channel exchanges heat with at least itself in at least the region substantially proximate to the outlet end;the second channel beginning in a longitudinally central region of the tube and extending toward the first end of the tube thereby defining a second coolant supply leg, the second coolant supply leg transitioning into a redirect leg wherein the second channel reverses direction in a region substantially proximate to the inlet end so as to extend back toward and terminate in the longitudinally central region thereby defining a second coolant return leg, wherein the second coolant supply leg is substantially adjacent to the second coolant return leg in at least the region substantially proximate to the inlet end, whereby a coolant supplied to the second channel exchanges heat with at least itself in at least the region substantially proximate to the inlet end;wherein at least a portion of the first coolant return leg is substantially adjacent to at least a portion of the second coolant supply leg, whereby heat transfer occurs between a coolant in the first coolant return leg and a coolant in the adjacent portions of the second coolant supply leg.11. The transition of claim 10 wherein the tube includes coolant entry and exit passages, the coolant entry passages extending between the outer periphery of the tube and the supply leg of the first and second channels, the coolant exit passages extending between the outer periphery of the tube and the return leg of the first and second channels. 12. The transition of claim 11 further including a supply manifold and an exhaust manifold, wherein the supply manifold is secured to the outer periphery of the tube so as to enclose the coolant entry passages, the exhaust manifold is secured to the outer periphery of the tube so as to enclose the coolant exit passages.13. The turbine engine component of claim 10 wherein the supply leg of the first channel and the supply leg of the second channel begin in a longitudinally central region of the tube but closer to the outlet end of the tube, and the return leg of the first channel and the return leg of the second channel begin in a longitudinally central region of the tube but closer to the inlet end of the tube.14. The turbine engine component of claim 10 wherein the plurality of cooling channel sets are disposed in the wall of the tube such that supply legs and return legs alternate throughout the periphery of the tube.15. The turbine engine component of claim 10 wherein the first and second channels are substantially rectangular in cross-section.16. The transition of claim 11 wherein the tube is formed by at least two longitudinal panels, wherein a longitudinal seam is defined at each junction of the at least two panels.17. The transition of claim 16 wherein the cooling channel sets are locally arranged such that the supply legs of the first and second channels are disposed on each side of the longitudinal seam.18. The transition of claim 10 wherein the tube has a substantially circular at the inlet end and substantially rectangular outlet end.19. The turbine engine component of claim 10 wherein the cross-sectional area of the tube at the outlet end is less than the cross-sectional area of the tube at the inlet end.20. The system of claim 10 wherein the tube includes at least one curve.