Heat-Transfer Problems of Liquid-cooled Gas-turbine Blades

Abstract

In this paper the authors briefly survey the possible methods of cooling gas-turbine rotor blades, and suggest that the most attractive is the thermo-syphon system, in which a quantity of liquid is enclosed within each blade to act as a conveyor of heat to the more easily cooled root. Two experimental investigations of this system are described, the first being that in which a rotating apparatus was used to give qualitative indications of the effectiveness of the system, and the second being one using a static rig with which a more detailed study of the heat-transfer mechanism was made. Provisional suggestions are made for applying the data to the design of cooled turbines, but the urgent need for data obtained under more realistic conditions is emphasized.