Coolable airfoil assembly

A process for closed-circuit cooling of an airfoil assembly, comprising:

• locating an airfoil in a machine portion between a first flange and a second flange, said airfoil including a peripheral portion surrounding a medial portion;
• exposing said airfoil to a hot fluid flow in said machine portion;
• circulating a flow of coolant fluid through a closed flow path, said flow path including said first and second flanges and at least one channel disposed in said peripheral portion of said airfoil and in flow communication with said first and second flanges;
• wherein said airfoil includes a chordwise extending leading edge section joined with a trailing edge section by a midchord section adjoining each therebetween and said at least one channel includes a plurality of channels connected with said flow path and said said flow path and said flow path is configured to direct coolant fluid from said inlet to said leading edge or trailing edge channels and then to said midchord channels and said outlet.

A closed-circuit coolable airfoil assembly for use and exposure in a hot fluid flow of a machine portion, comprising:

• a first flange configured to be connected with a casing of said machine portion;
• a second flange configured to be connected with said casing;
• an airfoil connected with and between said first flange and said second flange, said airfoil including a peripheral portion surrounding a medial portion;
• at least one channel disposed in said peripheral portion, said channel extending between said first flange and said second flange and being in flow communication with each;
• a closed flow path formed from said casing and through said first flange, said second flange and said channel;
• wherein said airfoil includes at least one hollow in said medial portion;
• and
• said hollow is configured to receive a second coolant fluid and in which said airfoil includes an opening isolated from said flow path and in flow communication with said hollow for communicating said second coolant fluid out of said hollow.