Comparative Study Between a Cut-Back and Conventional Trailing Edge Film Cooling System

Abstract

The present experimental study investigates the aero performance differences between a conventional turbine blade trailing edge and a trailing edge with a sharp cut-back. Both geometries include trailing edge film cooling. A scaled model of a conventional turbine blade trailing edge and the trailing edge with a sharp cut-back including the scaled film cooling hole geometries were incorporated into flat plates. Experiments were conducted in a low speed wind tunnel to establish the performance change caused by introducing such a cut-back system on the trailing edge. Experiments were conducted at a Reynolds number of 1.9 × 106 at the trailing edge and for blowing ratios from 0.9 to 2.4. The experimental data presented include; static pressure variation on the plate surfaces; the change in discharge coefficient due to the cut-back; detailed total pressure measurements via a 2D traverse mechanism at a plane 40mm downstream of the flat plates. The total pressure measurements were used to establish the mixed out loss for both configurations.