Improving thermal performance of turbine blade with combination of circular and oblong fins in a wedge channel: a numerical investigation

Abstract

Abstract Because of its narrow and aerodynamic design, cooling the trailing edge of a turbine blade offers an essential problem. For the trailing edge internal cooling of gas turbine blades, wedge-shaped channels are used. Pin-fin arrays play a critical role in enhancing heat transmission at the trailing edge of turbine blades. The flow and heat transfer properties of a number of wedge channels with staggered pin-fins of varied shapes are used to develop a design with a more effective heat transfer effect and reduced flow resistance. The present study compares the combination of circular pin fins and oblong pin fins in a wedge duct with a Reynolds number range of 12,000–85,000 and a constant heat flux (surface) of 3280 W/m2 applied to the bottom wall, top wall, and surfaces of the fins. The results indicate that the pressure loss is less in circular fins at the centre and oblong fins side by side, and it is 23.67 % less than circular and oblong fins in opposite positions. The Heat transfer coefficient for circular and oblong fins in opposite positions is 16.72 % higher than circular fins at centre and oblong fin side by side. The thermal performance factor is almost the same for both cases.