# US 2014/0360155 A1 · Microchannel systems and methods for cooling turbine components of a gas turbine engine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0360155 A1 - Document ID: US20140360155A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/912,582 - Filed: 2013-06-07 - Published: 2014-12-11 - Earliest claimed: 2013-06-07 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Applicants: General Electric Company - Inventors: David Wayne Weber; Aaron Ezekiel Smith - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140360155A1 ## CPC - F01D 11/08: for sealing space between rotor blade tips and stator (specially-shaped blade tips therefor F01D5/20) - F01D 5/187: {Convection cooling} - F05D 2240/11: Shroud seal segments - F05D 2260/204: by the use of microcircuits - Y10T 29/49236: Fluid pump or compressor making - 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 - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The present application and the resultant patent thus provide a microchannel system for cooling a hot gas path surface of a turbine. The microchannel system may include a turbine component having an outer surface extending along a hot gas path of the turbine, a microchannel defined within the turbine component and extending about the outer surface, and a number of pockets defined within the turbine component and positioned along the microchannel. The present application and the resultant patent further provide a method of forming a microchannel system for cooling a hot gas path surface of a turbine. The method may include the steps of forming a turbine component having an outer surface extending along a hot gas path of the turbine, defining a microchannel within the turbine component and extending about the outer surface, and defining a number of pockets within the turbine component and positioned along the microchannel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A microchannel system for cooling a hot gas path surface of a turbine, the microchannel system comprising: a turbine component comprising an outer surface extending along a hot gas path of the turbine; a microchannel defined within the turbine component and extending about the outer surface; and a plurality of pockets defined within the turbine component and positioned along the microchannel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The microchannel system of claim 1, wherein the pockets are spaced apart along a length of the microchannel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The microchannel system of claim 1, wherein each of the pockets encompasses a portion of the microchannel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The microchannel system of claim 1, wherein each of the pockets is offset to one side of the microchannel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The microchannel system of claim 1, wherein: the microchannel has a first cross-sectional area, each of the pockets has a second cross-sectional area, and the second cross-sectional area is greater than the first cross-sectional area. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The microchannel system of claim 1, further comprising: a fluid feed cavity defined by the turbine component, and a fluid inlet hole defined within the turbine component and extending between the fluid feed cavity and one of the pockets. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The microchannel system of claim 6, wherein there is no direct line of sight between the fluid feed cavity and the microchannel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The microchannel system of claim 1, further comprising: a fluid sink defined by the turbine component, and a fluid outlet hole defined within the turbine component and extending between the fluid sink and one of the pockets. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The microchannel system of claim 8, wherein there is no direct line of sight between the fluid sink and the microchannel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The microchannel system of claim 1, wherein the turbine component is a turbine shroud. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The microchannel system of claim 1, wherein the turbine component is a turbine nozzle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The microchannel system of claim 11, wherein the microchannel is defined within a sidewall overhang of the nozzle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The microchannel system of claim 1, wherein the turbine component is a turbine bucket. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The microchannel system of claim 13, wherein the microchannel is defined within a tip of the bucket. ### Claim 15 A method of forming a microchannel system for cooling a hot gas path surface of a turbine, the method comprising: forming a turbine component comprising an outer surface extending along a hot gas path of the turbine; defining a microchannel within the turbine component and extending about the outer surface; and defining a plurality of pockets within the turbine component and positioned along the microchannel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising drilling a fluid inlet hole defined within the turbine component and extending between a fluid feed cavity and one of the pockets. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising drilling a fluid outlet hole defined within the turbine component and extending between a fluid sink and one of the pockets. ### Claim 18 A microchannel system for cooling a hot gas path surface of a turbine, the microchannel system comprising: a turbine component comprising an outer surface extending along a hot gas path of the turbine; a plurality of microchannels defined within the turbine component and extending about the outer surface; and a plurality of pockets defined within the turbine component and positioned along each of the microchannels. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The microchannel system of claim 18, wherein each of the pockets encompasses a portion of the respective microchannel. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The microchannel system of claim 18, wherein each of the pockets is offset to one side of the respective microchannel.