U.S. patent application number 10/703575 was filed with the patent office on 2005-05-12 for cooling system for nozzle segment platform edges.
This patent application is currently assigned to GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY. Invention is credited to Blow, Gerald Kent, McGrath, Edward Lee, Meyer, Robert Carl, Morrow, Jennifer Ann, Phillips, James Stewart.
Application Number | 20050100437 10/703575 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34522946 |
Filed Date | 2005-05-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050100437 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Phillips, James Stewart ; et
al. |
May 12, 2005 |
COOLING SYSTEM FOR NOZZLE SEGMENT PLATFORM EDGES
Abstract
The cooling system for the nozzle edges includes a chamber
containing a cooling medium. First and second elongated plenums are
disposed along opposite side edges of each platform. Inlet passages
communicate cooling medium from the chamber into each plenum.
Outlet passages from each plenum terminate in outlet holes in the
side edges of the platform to cool the gap between adjacent nozzle
segments. Passageways communicate with each plenum and terminate in
film cooling holes to film cool platform surfaces. In each plenum,
the inlet passages are not in direct line-of-sight flow
communication with the outlet passages and passageways.
Inventors: |
Phillips, James Stewart;
(Easley, SC) ; McGrath, Edward Lee; (Easley,
SC) ; Meyer, Robert Carl; (Simpsonville, SC) ;
Blow, Gerald Kent; (Greer, SC) ; Morrow, Jennifer
Ann; (Tehachapi, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NIXON & VANDERHYE P.C./G.E.
1100 N. GLEBE RD.
SUITE 800
ARLINGTON
VA
22201
US
|
Assignee: |
GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Schenectady
NY
|
Family ID: |
34522946 |
Appl. No.: |
10/703575 |
Filed: |
November 10, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
415/115 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F01D 5/186 20130101;
F01D 25/12 20130101; F05D 2240/81 20130101; F05D 2260/202 20130101;
F01D 5/147 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
415/115 |
International
Class: |
F01D 005/14 |
Claims
1. A nozzle segment for a turbine having an axis, comprising: inner
and outer platforms and at least one nozzle vane extending
therebetween, said platforms having side edges extending generally
parallel to the axis; a cooling system for at least one of said
platforms including a source of a cooling medium, a first elongated
plenum extending along at least one of the side edges of said one
platform, a plurality of inlet passages in communication between
said source and said plenum at spaced locations along said plenum,
a plurality of outlet passages in communication with said plenum at
spaced locations along said plenum and having outlet openings
through said one side edge of said one platform at spaced locations
therealong, and passageways in communication with said plenum and a
plurality of film cooling holes disposed along a surface of said
one platform for supplying the cooling medium along and film
cooling said platform surface; said inlet passages, said outlet
passages and said passageways being arranged such that said inlet
passages do not have direct line-of-sight flow of the cooling
medium into the outlet passages and said passageways.
2. A nozzle segment according to claim 1 wherein said vane has
pressure and suction sides, said cooling system including a second
elongated plenum extending along an opposite side edge of said one
platform, a plurality of second inlet passages in communication
between said source and said second plenum at spaced locations
along said second plenum, a plurality of spaced outlet passages in
communication with said second plenum at spaced locations along
said second plenum and having second outlet openings through said
opposite side edge of said one platform at spaced locations
therealong and second passageways in communication with said second
plenum and a plurality of second film cooling holes disposed along
a surface of said platform for supplying the cooling medium along
and film cooling said platform surface; said second inlet passages,
said second outlet passages and said second passageways being
arranged such that said second inlet passages do not have direct
line-of-sight flow of the cooling medium into the second outlet
passages and said second passageways, said first plenum extending
along said one side edge on the suction side of said vane being
located closer to said one edge of said one platform than the
second plenum extending along said opposite side edge on the
pressure side of said vane is located relative to said opposite
edge of said one platform.
3. A nozzle segment according to claim 1 wherein said vane has
pressure and suction side surfaces, said cooling system including a
second elongated plenum extending along an opposite side edge of
said one platform, a plurality of second inlet passages in
communication between said source and said second plenum at spaced
locations along said second plenum, a plurality of second outlet
passages in communication with said second plenum at spaced
locations along said second platform and having second outlet
openings through said opposite side edge of said one platform at
spaced locations therealong and second passageways in communication
with said second plenum and a plurality of second film cooling
holes disposed along a surface of said one platform for supplying
cooling medium along and film cooling said platform surface; said
second inlet passages, said second outlet passages and said second
passageways being arranged such that said second inlet passages do
not have direct line-of-sight flow of the cooling medium into the
second outlet passages and said second passageways, the
first-mentioned film cooling holes being directed to flow the
cooling medium along the platform surface for film cooling thereof
in a direction generally parallel to the suction side surface of
the vane.
4. A nozzle segment according to claim 3 wherein said second film
cooling holes are located along said opposite side edge on the
pressure side of said vane and are directed to flow the cooling
medium along the platform surface for film cooling thereof in a
direction toward said opposite edge of said platform.
5. A nozzle segment according to claim 1 wherein said vane has
pressure and suction sides, said cooling system including a second
elongated plenum extending along an opposite side edge of said one
platform, a plurality of second inlet passages in communication
between said source and said second plenum at spaced locations
along said second plenum, a plurality of second outlet passages in
communication with said second plenum at spaced locations along
said second plenum and having second outlet openings through said
opposite side edge of said one platform at spaced locations
therealong and second passageways in communication with said second
plenum and a plurality of second film cooling holes disposed along
a surface of said platform for supplying cooling medium along and
film cooling said platform surface; said second inlet passages,
said second outlet passages and said second passageways being
arranged such that said second inlet passages do not have direct
line-of-sight flow of the cooling medium into the second outlet
passages and said second passageways, said second film cooling
holes located along said platform surface on said pressure side of
said vane being directed toward said opposite edge of the
platform.
6. A nozzle segment according to claim 1 wherein said first plenum
is closed at opposite ends.
7. A nozzle segment according to claim 1 wherein said vane has
pressure and suction sides, said cooling system including a second
elongated plenum extending along an opposite side edge of said one
platform, a plurality of second inlet passages in communication
between said source and said second plenum at spaced locations
along said second plenum, a plurality of second outlet passages in
communication with said second plenum at spaced locations along
said second plenum and having second outlet openings through said
opposite side edge of said one platform at spaced locations
therealong and second passageways in communication with said second
plenum and a plurality of second film cooling holes disposed along
a surface of said one platform for supplying cooling medium along
and film cooling said platform surface; said second inlet passages,
said second outlet passages and said second passageways being
arranged such that said second inlet passages do not have direct
line-of-sight flow of the cooling medium into the second outlet
passages and said second passageways, a portion of the surface of
said one platform adjacent said one side edge on the suction side
of said vane being recessed below remaining surface portions of the
one platform.
8. A nozzle segment according to claim 1 wherein said one platform
comprises a radially inner platform of said nozzle segment.
9. A nozzle segment according to claim 1 wherein said one platform
comprises a radially outer platform of said nozzle segment.
10. A nozzle segment according to claim 1 wherein said outlet
passages are substantially equally spaced along said plenum and
said one side edge of said one platform.
11. A nozzle segment according to claim 1 wherein said outlet holes
are disposed under the platform surface being film cooled.
12. In a turbine having an axis, a plurality of nozzle segments
arranged in a circumferential array about said axis, each of said
nozzle segments including inner and outer platforms and at least
one nozzle vane extending therebetween, said platforms having side
edges extending generally parallel to the axis and in generally
circumferential registration with the side edges of platforms of
adjacent nozzle segments; a cooling system for at least one of the
platforms of each segment including a source of a cooling medium, a
first elongated plenum extending along at least one of the side
edges of said one platform, a plurality of inlet passages in
communication between said source and said plenum at spaced
locations along said plenum, a plurality of outlet passages in
communication with said plenum at spaced locations along said
plenum and having outlet openings through said one side edge of
said one platform at spaced locations therealong for flowing the
cooling medium toward the side edge of a platform of an adjacent
nozzle segment, and passageways in communication with said plenum
and a plurality of film cooling holes disposed along a surface of
said platform for supplying the cooling medium along and film
cooling said platform surface, said inlet passages, said outlet
passages and said passageways being arranged such that said inlet
passages do not have direct line-of-sight flow of the cooling
medium into the outlet passages and said passageways.
13. In a turbine according to claim 12 wherein each of said
segments has a vane with pressure and suction sides, said cooling
system for each segment including a second plenum extending along
an opposite side edge of said one platform, a plurality of second
inlet passages in communication between said source and said second
plenum at spaced locations along said second plenum, a plurality of
second outlet passages in communication with said second plenum at
spaced locations along said second plenum and having second outlet
openings through said opposite side edge of said one platform at
spaced locations therealong for flowing the cooling medium toward a
side edge of a platform of another adjacent segment, and second
passageways in communication with said second plenum and a
plurality of second film cooling holes disposed along a surface of
said platform for supplying cooling medium along and film cooling
said platform surface, said second inlet passages, said second
outlet passages and said second passageways being arranged such
that said second inlet passages do not have direct line-of-sight
flow of the cooling medium into said second outlet passages and
said second passageways.
14. A nozzle segment for a turbine having an axis, comprising:
inner and outer platforms and at least one nozzle vane extending
therebetween, said platforms having opposite side edges adjacent
respective suction and pressure sides of the vane; a cooling system
for at least one of said platforms including a source of a cooling
medium, first and second elongated plenums extending along the
opposite side edges of said one platform, a plurality of first and
second inlet passages in communication between said source and said
first and second plenums, respectively, at spaced locations
therealong, a plurality of first and second outlet passages in
communication with said first and second plenums, respectively, at
spaced locations along said plenums and having outlet openings
through respective opposite side edges of said one platform at
spaced locations therealong, and a plurality of first and second
passageways in communication with said first and second plenums,
respectively, and a plurality of film cooling holes disposed along
a surface of said one platform for supplying the cooling medium
along and film cooling said platform surface; said first and second
plenums extending along respective side edges of said platform
adjacent suction and pressure sides of said vane with said first
plenum spaced closer to a side edge of said platform on said
suction side of said vane than said second plenum is spaced from
the side edge of the platform on said pressure side of said
vane.
15. A nozzle segment according to claim 14 wherein each of said
first and second plenums are closed at opposite ends.
16. A nozzle segment according to claim 14 wherein a portion of the
surface of said one platform adjacent the suction side of said vane
is recessed below remaining portions of the one platform.
17. A nozzle segment according to claim 14 wherein said one
platform comprises a radially inner platform of said nozzle
segment.
18. A nozzle segment according to claim 14 wherein said one
platform comprises a radially outer platform of said nozzle
segment.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a cooling system
for the nozzle segments of a gas turbine and particularly relates
to a cooling system for cooling the adjoining edges of inner and
outer platforms of adjacent nozzle segments arranged in an annular
array about the axis of the turbine.
[0002] In gas turbines, annular arrays of nozzles are disposed in
the hot gas path for turning and accelerating the gas flow for
optimum performance of the buckets. In the first stage of a
turbine, for example, there are a plurality of circumferentially
spaced nozzle vanes which extend generally radially between inner
and outer annular bands which serve to confine the gas flow to an
annular configuration as the gas flows through the multiple stages
of the turbine. A plurality of circumferentially spaced buckets
mounted on the turbine rotor lie axially downstream of the annular
array of nozzles and form a turbine stage with the nozzles. The
nozzles, for example, of the first stage of the turbine, are
typically provided in nozzle segments. Each nozzle segment includes
an inner platform and an outer platform and at least one vane
extending between the platforms. The nozzle segments are arranged
in circumferential registration with one another. Particularly, the
inner and outer platforms of each nozzle segment lie in
circumferential registration with the inner and outer platforms of
adjacent segments, respectively. In this arrangement, gaps are
formed between adjoining segments along the platform edges. Prior
nozzle platform edges have been uncooled, cooled by film cooling
from adjacent nozzle segments or cooled by long holes that run from
a large impingement cavity in the nozzle segment to the gaps
between the nozzle segments. Film cooling from an adjacent nozzle
to cool the platform edge, however, causes a debiting of the
cooling effectiveness when the cooling film crosses the nozzle
intersegment gap. When long holes running from an impingement
cavity are utilized, the convective cooling of the edge by the
holes is discrete rather than continuous and, therefore, less
efficient.
[0003] Certain prior nozzle designs have adjacent platform edges
configured such that the nozzle intersegment gaps are aligned
parallel to the hot gas flow vector. Perfect alignment of the
adjoining edges of the nozzle segments, however, is difficult to
achieve and maintain as a result of manufacturing and
thermomechanical problems. It will be appreciated that the core
flow boundary layers of the hot gas along the platform surfaces may
be tripped if the intersegment gap is not aligned with the flow
direction. A boundary layer trip at the adjoining edges of the
platforms results in a spike in heat transfer near the edge of the
platform and also results in a debit to the cooling effectiveness
of any film cooling medium that crosses the gap.
[0004] Notwithstanding the desirability of aligning the inner
segment gaps parallel to the flow vector, it is beneficial for
other reasons to provide nozzle platform edges which extend
generally parallel to the axis of the rotor. This enables removal
of the nozzles without removal of the top half of the turbine
shell, resulting in less expensive and more flexible maintenance.
Consequently, the intersegment gap is not aligned with the core
flow downstream of the vane. Such design is more sensitive to any
platform deformations that would cause a mismatch between the
platform edges of adjacent nozzle segments and cause the core flow
to "see" a facing step. Thus, the edges of nozzles segment
platforms which extend generally parallel to the turbine axis are
subject to severe thermal distress due to boundary layer trip.
Accordingly, it has been found desirable to provide a cooling
system which would minimize or eliminate the foregoing problems
associated with cooling edges of nozzle segments wherein the edges
lie generally parallel to the turbine axis.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, an elongated plenum is provided along at least one edge
and, preferably, both edges of each of the inner and outer
platforms. Each plenum is provided with a plurality of supply or
inlet passages in communication between a source of a cooling
medium, e.g., compressor discharge air. The supply passages
communicate with the elongated plenum at spaced locations along the
plenum. A plurality of outlet passages are provided in
communication with each plenum at spaced locations therealong and
have outlet openings through a corresponding side edge of the
platform at spaced locations therealong. Additional passageways lie
in communication with the plenum and terminate in a plurality of
film cooling holes in the platform surface exposed to the hot gas
path. Thus, cooling medium supplied from the plenum to the film
cooling holes film cool the platform surfaces exposed in the hot
gas path.
[0006] The outlet passages and passageways from each plenum are
located such that each inlet passage does not have direct
line-of-sight to the outlet passages and passageways. As a
consequence, the cooling medium impinges on the walls of each
plenum and provides additional internal convective cooling to the
edges of the platform. Moreover, the cooling medium supply passages
provide a substantially uniform pressure and flow of coolant along
the length of the plenum, affording a continuous rather than
discrete cooling effect. As a consequence of this arrangement, the
edges of the platforms are cooled by (i) both conduction and
convection due to the proximity of the plenum to the edge being
cooled; (ii) cooling medium flowing through the outlet passages
passing under the edge and into the intersegment gap through the
outlet openings; (iii) impingement of the supplied cooling medium
inside the plenum due to the lack of direct line-of-sight flow from
the inlets to the outlets; and (iv) film cooling.
[0007] In a preferred embodiment according to the present
invention, there is provided a nozzle segment for a turbine having
an axis, comprising inner and outer platforms and at least one
nozzle vane extending therebetween, the platforms having side edges
extending generally parallel to the axis, a cooling system for at
least one of the platforms including a source of a cooling medium,
a first elongated plenum extending along at least one of the side
edges of the one platform, a plurality of inlet passages in
communication between the source and the plenum at spaced locations
along the plenum, a plurality of outlet passages in communication
with the plenum at spaced locations along the plenum and having
outlet openings through one side edge of one platform at spaced
locations therealong, and passageways in communication with the
plenum and a plurality of film cooling holes disposed along a
surface of one platform for supplying the cooling medium along and
film cooling the platform surface, the inlet passages, the outlet
passages and the passageways being arranged such that the inlet
passages do not have direct line-of-sight flow of the cooling
medium into the outlet passages and the passageways.
[0008] In a further preferred embodiment according to the present
invention, there is provided in a turbine having an axis, a
plurality of nozzle segments arranged in a circumferential array
about the axis, each of the nozzle segments including inner and
outer platforms and at least one nozzle vane extending
therebetween, the platforms having side edges extending generally
parallel to the axis and in generally circumferential registration
with the side edges of platforms of adjacent nozzle segments, a
cooling system for at least one of the platforms of each segment
including a source of a cooling medium, a first elongated plenum
extending along at least one of the side edges of one platform, a
plurality of inlet passages in communication between the source and
the plenum at spaced locations along the plenum, a plurality of
outlet passages in communication with the plenum at spaced
locations along the plenum and having outlet openings through one
side edge of one platform at spaced locations therealong for
flowing the cooling medium toward the side edge of a platform of an
adjacent nozzle segment, and passageways in communication with the
plenum and a plurality of film cooling holes disposed along a
surface of the platform for supplying the cooling medium along and
film cooling the platform surface, the inlet passages, the outlet
passages and the passageways being arranged such that the inlet
passages do not have direct line-of-sight flow of the cooling
medium into the outlet passages and the passageways.
[0009] In a further preferred embodiment according to the present
invention, there is provided a nozzle segment for a turbine having
an axis, comprising inner and outer platforms and at least one
nozzle vane extending therebetween, the platforms having opposite
side edges adjacent respective suction and pressure sides of the
vane, a cooling system for at least one of the platforms including
a source of a cooling medium, first and second elongated plenums
extending along the opposite side edges of one platform, a
plurality of first and second inlet passages in communication
between the source and the first and second plenums, respectively,
at spaced locations therealong, a plurality of first and second
outlet passages in communication with the first and second plenums,
respectively, at spaced locations along the plenums and having
outlet openings through respective opposite side edges of one
platform at spaced locations therealong, and a plurality of first
and second passageways in communication with the first and second
plenums, respectively, and a plurality of film cooling holes
disposed along a surface of one platform for supplying the cooling
medium along and film cooling the platform surface, the first and
second plenums extending along respective side edges of the
platform adjacent suction and pressure sides of the vane with the
first plenum spaced closer to a side edge of the platform on the
suction side of the vane than the second plenum is spaced from the
side edge of the platform on the pressure side of the vane.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic fragmentary view of a portion of a
three-stage turbine incorporating a nozzle segment platform edge
cooling system in a stage one nozzle in accordance with a preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a nozzle segment of the
stage one nozzle;
[0012] FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view
illustrating opposite side edges of a platform and a vane of a
nozzle segment as viewed from the suction side;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 with the platform surface
removed to illustrate the cooling system within the platform;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the inner platform with the
inner platform surface removed to reveal the cooling system;
and
[0015] FIG. 6 is a perspective view on the pressure side of the
inner platform with the platform surface removed to reveal the
cooling system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] Referring now to the drawings, particularly to FIG. 1, there
is illustrated a multi-stage turbine section, generally designated
10, including a rotor 12 having rotor wheels 14, 16 and 18. The
rotor wheels 14, 16 and 18 mount buckets 20, 22 and 24,
respectively, in the hot gas path of the turbine. The first, second
and third nozzle stages are likewise illustrated and represented by
the nozzle vanes 26, 28 and 30, respectively. It will be
appreciated that the nozzle vanes 26, 28 and 30 turn and accelerate
the hot gases to rotate the buckets and rotor about the axis 32 of
the turbine.
[0017] Referring to FIG. 2, the first stage nozzles are formed of a
plurality of nozzle segments 34, each having an inner platform 36
and an outer platform 38 with at least one nozzle vane 26 extending
between the inner and outer platforms. It will be appreciated that
the nozzle segments 34 are disposed in an annular array about the
axis of the turbine with the opposite edges of each of the inner
and outer platforms lying in circumferential registration with
adjacent edges of inner and outer platforms, respectively, of
adjacent segments. Thus, the opposite edges of the inner platform
36 register circumferentially with adjacent edges of adjacent
segments, and hence form an intersegment gap. Similarly, the outer
platform 38 has opposite edges which register circumferentially
with respective edges of adjacent segments forming intersegment
gaps therebetween. As will be appreciated from a review of the
drawings, the nozzle intersegment gaps are straight, i.e.,
generally parallel to the axis of the turbine, enabling removal of
the nozzles without removal of the top half of the turbine shell.
It will be appreciated that the edges of the platforms,
particularly aft of the vane 26 are subject to severe thermal
stresses and require an advanced cooling system. The cooling system
is symmetrical with respect to the inner and outer platforms and a
description of one platform cooling system will suffice as a
description of the other platform cooling system.
[0018] Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, there is illustrated the
inner platform 36 having an edge 42 along a suction side of the
nozzle segment. That is, the suction and pressure side edges of the
platforms refer to the side edges closest to the suction and
pressure sides, respectively, of the vane 26. Each platform
includes a source of cooling medium, e.g., compressor discharge
air, which is supplied to a chamber 46 generally centrally located
within the platform. The chamber 46 supplies the cooling medium to
various portions of the nozzle and forms part of the present
cooling system.
[0019] The cooling system hereof includes a first plenum 48
extending generally parallel along the suction side edge 42 of the
platform and below the surface of the platform exposed to the hot
gas in the hot gas path. The plenum 48 is closed at both ends. The
plenum may be integrally cast with the nozzle or may be drilled and
plugged at one end. The tapered enlarged ends illustrated in FIGS.
5 and 6 adapt the plenum for receiving a plug, not shown. Plenum 48
is illustrated as circular in cross-section. It will be appreciated
that the cross-section of the plenum may be other than circular,
e.g., rectilinear or otherwise. A plurality of first inlet passages
50 communicate the cooling medium from the chamber 46 into the
plenum 48. The first inlet passages 50 are spaced one from the
other and are generally equally spaced along the plenum 48. In this
manner, the cooling medium is supplied to first plenum 48 and
maintains plenum 48 at a relatively constant pressure throughout
the length of the plenum. As illustrated, a plurality of first
outlet passages 52 lie in communication with the plenum 48 at
spaced locations along plenum 48 and have outlet openings 54
through the side edge 42 of the platform. The outlet passages 52
are generally equally spaced along the plenum and the outlets 54
are likewise equally spaced along the side edge 42 of the
platform.
[0020] Further, first passageways 56 communicate the cooling medium
between the plenum 48 and film cooling holes 58 formed in the
surface of the platform for film cooling the surface exposed to the
hot gas path. The inlet passages 50, the outlet passages 52 and the
passageways 56 are arranged such that the inlet passages 50 do not
have direct line-of-sight flow of the cooling medium into the
outlet passages 52 and the passageways 56 as the cooling medium
flows into the plenum 48. Consequently, impingement cooling of the
surfaces of the plenum is effected, affording enhanced internal
convective cooling. It will be appreciated that the proximity of
the cooling medium in the plenum 48 affords conductive and
convective cooling of the side edge 42 of the platform.
Additionally, the passages 52 and outlets 54 transmit cooling
medium into the intersegment gap, between adjacent platforms,
providing cooling of the side edge of the adjacent nozzle. On the
suction side of the platform, it will be appreciated that the film
cooling holes 58 are arranged to direct film cooling medium
generally in the direction of the flow along the platform, i.e.,
extending in the general direction of the suction side of the
vane.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 6, there is provided a second plenum 70
which extends generally parallel to the opposite side edge 72 of
the platform 36, i.e., the pressure side edge 72 of the platform.
The plenum 70 is spaced further from the opposite side edge 72 of
the platform than the first plenum 48 is spaced from the side edge
42. Plenum 70 is closed at opposite ends and may be configured
similar to plenum 48. Similarly as on the suction side, a plurality
of second inlet passages 74 lie in communication between the
central chamber 46 of the nozzle segment and the second plenum 70
at spaced positions along plenum 70 to supply the cooling medium to
the plenum 70 from chamber 46. Likewise, a plurality of second
outlet passages 78 communicate cooling medium from the second
plenum 70 to second outlet openings 80 along the side edge 72 of
the platform. The outlet openings 80 and passages 78 are generally
equally spaced from one another. Finally, second passageways 82 lie
in communication with the second plenum 70 and a plurality of film
cooling holes 84 disposed along the surface of the platform
adjacent the pressure side. The film cooling holes 84 are oriented
to direct film cooling medium generally in the direction of flow of
the hot gases past the vane. Thus, the second film cooling holes 84
direct the cooling medium across the intersegment gap for film
cooling a trailing edge portion of the adjacent nozzle segment.
[0022] To minimize any thermal spike or trip of flow between the
pressure side of the platform and the suction side of the adjacent
platform, a platform edge portion 88 adjacent the trailing edge and
along the suction side edge of the platform is slightly recessed,
as in FIGS. 2 and 3, below adjacent portions 90 (FIG. 2) of the
platform surface in the hot gas path. Consequently, a trailing edge
portion of the platform along the suction side will lie at an
elevation equal to or below the elevation of the edge along the
pressure side of an adjacent platform, thereby avoiding a thermal
spike along the suction side edge and any tripping of the angled
flow between adjacent nozzle segments.
[0023] With the foregoing cooling scheme, it will be appreciated
that the proximity of the cooling medium in the first and second
plenums of each platform affords conductive and convective cooling
of the edges of the platform. Further, the second film cooling
holes 84 afford film cooling along downstream portions of the
pressure side of the segment, as well as along the suction side of
the adjacent segment. The film cooling holes 58 film cool the
platform surface along the suction side of the segment. The first
and second cooling holes 54 and 80 lie just under the platform
surface exposed to the hot gas path and provide cooling medium into
the intersegment gap to cool the edges. Finally, the arrangement of
the inlet passages vis-a-vis the outlet passages and passageways is
such that direct line-of-sight flow of cooling medium does not
occur, and consequently affords enhanced conductive and convective
cooling of the edges.
[0024] While the invention has been described in connection with
what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred
embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be
limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is
intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements
included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *