# US 7,407,365 B2 · Cooling arrangement

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- Number: US 7,407,365 B2
- Document ID: US7407365B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/067,637
- Filed: 2005-02-28
- Published: 2005-09-29
- Granted: 2008-08-05
- Earliest claimed: 2004-03-25
- Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
- Inventors: Alec George Dodd
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7407365B2

## CPC

- F01D 5/147: {Construction, i.e. structural features, e.g. of weight-saving hollow blades (F01D5/148, F01D5/16 and F01D5/20 take precedence; blade shape F01D5/141; blades with cooling or heating channels or cavities F01D5/18; heating, heat-insulating or cooling means on blades F01D5/18)}
- F01D 5/18: Hollow blades, {i.e. blades with cooling or heating channels or cavities (structure of hollow blades in general F01D5/147)}; Heating, heat-insulating or cooling means on blades
- B33Y 80/00: Products made by additive manufacturing
- F28F 2210/02: with particular branching, e.g. fractal conduit arrangements
- F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D)
- B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING
- F28F: DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION (water and air traps, air venting F16)

## Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling arrangement in which a fractal passage network is provided incorporating several passage stages. Each passage stage 4, 5, 6, 7 has substantially the same passage cross-section for consistency with other passage stages to facilitate flow pressure control across the fractal passage network. Normally, the length of passages in each passage stage are also specifically determined in order to achieve a consistent flow pressure control. The arrangement is particularly utilized with regard to cooling within turbine engine components such as blade aerofoils.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A cooling arrangement for a component of a turbine engine, the arrangement comprising:
a fractal network of passage stages, each passage stage having a consolidated passage cross-sectional area that is substantially equal with a consolidated passage cross-sectional area of other passage stages for flow pressure control across the fractal network.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fractal network comprises fractal branching between passage stages.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

An arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the branching is angled relative to previous stages for pressure control across the fractal network.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fractal network comprises a first primary passage stage formed by a single central core passage.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein a final passage stage in communication with a component surface includes surface fissure apertures for distribution of coolant flow to the surface of the component.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fractal network comprises four passage stages.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A component for a turbine engine incorporating cooling arrangement as claimed in claim 1.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

A component as claimed in claim 7, wherein the component is one of a turbine blade, a stator vane and a turbine gas path liner component in a turbine engine.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

A component as claimed in claim 7, wherein a surface of the component incorporates surface fissure apertures, and the surface fissure apertures are 0.5 millimeters in diameter for dust particle guarding.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A turbine engine incorporating the cooling arrangement as claimed in claim 1.