Method and Apparatus to Enhance Laminar Flow for Gas Turbine Engine Components

The gas turbine engine component according to claim 19 wherein the component is made of a non-metallic material comprising a ceramic matrix composite material.

A method of enhancing laminar flow for a gas turbine engine component comprising the steps of:

• a) positioning a component body within a hot gas flow of a gas turbine engine having an external pressure, wherein the component body includes at least one internal cavity having an internal pressure;
• b) providing at least one inlet opening formed in an external surface of the component body to direct hot exhaust gas flow into the at least one internal cavity, and providing at least one outlet from the internal cavity to external atmosphere, and
• c) maintaining the internal pressure to be less than the external pressure at the inlet opening and to be greater than the external pressure at the outlet opening to controllably ingest a portion of the hot gas flow via the inlet opening and expel ingested hot exhaust gas via the outlet opening to maintain a laminar boundary layer of a remaining portion of the hot gas flow along the outer surface of the component body.