Low loss baffled serpentine turns
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorBrandon W. Spangler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vane includes a forward rib and an aft rib positioned axially aft of the forward rib. The vane also includes a middle rib positioned axially between the forward rib and the aft rib, such that the forward rib and the middle rib define a forward passage configured to receive a forward baffle and the middle rib and the aft rib define an aft passage configured to receive an aft baffle. The vane also includes an inner surface extending axially from the forward rib to the aft rib, being radially separated from the middle rib via a gap such that air can flow between the aft passage and the forward passage via the gap, and having a radially outward curve from the forward rib to the middle rib and having a radially inward curve from the middle rib to the aft rib.
Claims20
A vane for use in a gas turbine engine, the vane comprising:
- a forward rib and an aft rib positioned axially aft of the forward rib;
- a forward baffle and an aft baffle such that at least one of the forward baffle or the aft baffle has a sealed radial end positioned at a radially inner end thereof;
- a middle rib positioned axially between the forward rib and the aft rib, such that the forward rib and the middle rib define a forward passage configured to receive the forward baffle, and the middle rib and the aft rib define an aft passage configured to receive the aft baffle such that the forward baffle and the aft baffle are configured to prevent airflow from being received by an internal volume of the forward baffle and of the aft baffle via at least one of the forward passage or the aft passage;
- and
- an inner surface extending axially from the forward rib to the aft rib, being radially separated from the middle rib via a gap such that air can flow between the aft passage and the forward passage via the gap, and having a radially outward curve from the forward rib to the middle rib and having a radially inward curve from the middle rib to the aft rib.
A system for reducing pressure loss in a serpentine turn of a vane of a gas turbine engine, the system comprising:
- a forward baffle configured to be received by a forward passage of the vane that is separated from an aft passage of the vane by a middle rib, the middle rib being separated from an inner surface of the vane by a gap, the forward baffle having a first circumferential side and a second circumferential side and a slot therebetween on an aft end of the forward baffle, the slot being positioned radially outward from the middle rib;
- and
- an aft baffle configured to be received by the aft passage of the vane and having a forward tapered end radially outward from the middle rib and configured to be received by the slot,
- wherein at least one of the forward baffle or the aft baffle has a sealed radial end positioned at a radially inner end thereof, such that the forward baffle and the aft baffle are each configured to prevent airflow from being received by an internal volume of the forward baffle and of the aft baffle via at least one of the forward passage or the aft passage.
A turbine section of a gas turbine engine comprising:
- a rotor configured to rotate in response to a flow of air;
- and
- a vane having:
- a forward rib and an aft rib positioned axially aft of the forward rib,
- a middle rib positioned axially between the forward rib and the aft rib, such that the forward rib and the middle rib define a forward passage and the middle rib and the aft rib defining an aft passage,
- a forward baffle positioned in the forward passage and having a first circumferential side and a second circumferential side and a slot therebetween on an aft end of the forward baffle, the slot being positioned radially outward from the middle rib,
- an aft baffle having a forward tapered end radially outward from the middle rib and configured to be received by the slot, forming a seal such that air cannot flow through the aft baffle and the forward baffle, and
- an inner surface extending axially from the forward rib to the aft rib, being radially separated from the middle rib via a gap such that air can flow between the aft passage and the forward passage via the gap, and having a radially outward curve from the forward rib to the middle rib and having a radially inward curve from the middle rib to the aft rib
- wherein at least one of the forward baffle or the aft baffle has a sealed radial end positioned at a radially inner end thereof, such that the forward baffle and the aft baffle are configured to prevent airflow from being received by an internal volume of the forward baffle and of the aft baffle via the forward passage or the aft passage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.