# US 10,309,227 B2 · Multi-turn cooling circuits for turbine blades

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- Number: US 10,309,227 B2
- Document ID: US10309227B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/334,563
- Filed: 2016-10-26
- Published: 2018-04-26
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2016-10-26
- Assignees: General Electric Company
- Applicants: General Electric Company
- Inventors: David Wayne Weber; Sandip Dutta
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309227B2

## CPC

- F01D 5/187: {Convection cooling}
- F01D 5/186: {Film cooling (F01D5/187 takes precedence)}
- F01D 9/026: {Scrolls for radial machines or engines}
- F05D 2220/32: in gas turbines
- F05D 2240/304: related to the trailing edge of a rotor blade
- F05D 2260/202: by film cooling
- F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D)
- F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS

## Abstract

A trailing edge cooling system for a turbine blade is disclosed. The system may include a cooling circuit including an outward leg, and a return leg positioned adjacent the outward leg. The outward and return leg each may extend toward and away, respectively, from a trailing edge of the turbine blade. The cooling circuit may also include a plurality of turn legs. The plurality of turn legs may include a turn leg positioned directly adjacent the trailing edge of the turbine blade, and a distinct turn leg positioned axially adjacent the turn leg, and opposite the trailing edge of the turbine blade. The distinct turn leg may be oriented non-parallel to at least one of the outward leg and the return leg.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A trailing edge cooling system for a turbine blade, the trailing edge cooling system comprising:
a coolant feed extending radially within the turbine blade;
a collection passage extending radially within the turbine blade, adjacent the coolant feed; and
a cooling circuit in fluid communication with the coolant feed and the collection passage, the cooling circuit including:
an outward leg extending axially toward a trailing edge of the turbine blade, the outward leg in direct fluid communication with the coolant feed;
a return leg positioned adjacent the outward leg and extending axially from the trailing edge of the turbine blade, the return leg in direct fluid communication with the collection passage; and
a plurality of turn legs fluidly coupling the outward leg and the return leg, the plurality of turn legs including:
a first turn leg in direct fluid communication with and extending radially from the outward leg;
a second turn leg in direct fluid communication with the first turn leg, the second turn leg extending axially from the first turn leg toward the trailing edge of the turbine blade; and
a third turn leg extending radially through the turbine blade, directly adjacent the trailing edge, the third turn leg in direct fluid communication with the second turn leg and the return leg.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The trailing edge cooling system of claim 1, wherein the third turn leg of the plurality of turn legs is substantially parallel to the trailing edge of the turbine blade.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The trailing edge cooling system of claim 1, wherein the third turn leg extends substantially parallel to the first turn leg of the plurality of turn legs.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The trailing edge cooling system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the third turn leg of the plurality of turn legs extends radially above the outward leg.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The trailing edge cooling system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the third turn leg of the plurality of turn legs extends radially below the second turn leg.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The trailing edge cooling system of claim 1, wherein the third turn leg of the plurality of turn legs includes an outer wall positioned at least one of:
directly adjacent to the trailing edge of the turbine blade, and
substantially parallel to the trailing edge of the turbine blade.

### Claim 7

A turbine blade comprising:
a trailing edge cooling system disposed within the turbine blade, the trailing edge cooling system including:
a coolant feed extending radially within the turbine blade;
a collection passage extending radially within the turbine blade, adjacent the coolant feed; and
a plurality of cooling circuits extending at least partially along a radial length of a trailing edge of the turbine blade, each of the plurality of cooling circuits in direct fluid communication with the coolant feed and the collection passage and each of the plurality of cooling circuits including:
an outward leg extending axially toward the trailing edge of the turbine blade, the outward leg in direct fluid communication with the coolant feed;
a return leg positioned adjacent the outward leg and extending axially from the trailing edge of the turbine blade, the return leg in direct fluid communication with the collection passage; and
a plurality of turn legs fluidly coupling the outward leg and the return leg, the plurality of turn legs including:
a turn leg positioned directly adjacent the trailing edge of the turbine blade; and
a distinct turn leg positioned axially adjacent the turn leg, opposite the trailing edge of the turbine blade, the distinct turn leg oriented non-parallel to at least one of the outward leg and the return leg.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The turbine blade of claim 7, wherein the turn leg of each of the plurality of cooling circuits is substantially parallel to the trailing edge of the turbine blade.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The turbine blade of claim 7, wherein the turn leg of each of the plurality of cooling circuits extends substantially parallel to the distinct turn leg of the cooling circuit.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The turbine blade of claim 7, wherein the turn leg of each of the plurality of cooling circuits includes an outer wall positioned at least one of:
directly adjacent to the trailing edge of the turbine blade, and
substantially parallel to the trailing edge of the turbine blade.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The turbine blade of claim 7, wherein the turn leg of each of the plurality of cooling circuits is in direct fluid communication with one of:
the outward leg, or
the return leg.

### Claim 12

A trailing edge cooling system for a turbine blade, the trailing edge cooling system comprising:
a coolant feed extending radially within the turbine blade;
a collection passage extending radially within the turbine blade, adjacent the coolant feed; and
a cooling circuit in fluid communication with the coolant feed and the collection passage, the cooling circuit including:
an outward leg extending axially toward a trailing edge of the turbine blade, the outward leg in direct fluid communication with the coolant feed;
a return leg positioned adjacent the outward leg and extending axially from the trailing edge of the turbine blade, the return leg in direct fluid communication with the collection passage; and
a plurality of turn legs fluidly coupling the outward leg and the return leg, the plurality of turn legs including:
a first turn leg in direct fluid communication with and extending radially from the outward leg, the first turn leg extending directly adjacent the trailing edge;
a second turn leg in direct fluid communication with the first turn leg, the second turn leg extending axially from the first turn leg and away from the trailing edge of the turbine blade; and
a third turn leg extending radially from the second turn leg, the third turn leg in direct fluid communication with the second turn leg and the return leg.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The trailing edge cooling system of claim 12, wherein the first turn leg of the plurality of turn legs is substantially parallel to the trailing edge of the turbine blade.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The trailing edge cooling system of claim 12, wherein the third turn leg extends substantially parallel to the first turn leg of the plurality of turn legs.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The trailing edge cooling system of claim 12, wherein at least a portion of the first turn leg of the plurality of turn legs extends radially below the return leg.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The trailing edge cooling system of claim 12, wherein at least a portion of the first turn leg of the plurality of turn legs extends radially above the second turn leg.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The trailing edge cooling system of claim 12, wherein the first turn leg of the plurality of turn legs includes an outer wall positioned at least one of:
directly adjacent to the trailing edge of the turbine blade, and
substantially parallel to the trailing edge of the turbine blade.