TURBINE BLADES By S.

Turcott – Steel Image

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Keeping it Cool

This is the second article in a short series dissecting this turbine blade purchased on eBay for $50.

Jet engine turbine blades convert energy from burning fuel into rotation to drive the turbine shaft. This
means turbine blades literally operate in burning fuels for months or years. Although the metals used are
incredibly durable at high temperatures, an important part of their survivability is based upon a simple
idea – keeping the blade as cool as possible. A large part of this is completed by using compressed air to
cool the blade. This simple idea is quite complex in application and I find the designs employed are
inspiring examples of thoughtful engineering. This article summarizes the bold strategies used to air cool
this particular blade.

First thing to know – the cooling air used to cool turbine blades is expensive. Cooling air is taken from
the final stages of the turbine compressor which has taken a lot of fuel energy to pressurize. As we are
trying to increase fuel efficiency, not consume it, cooling air must be used wisely and waste must be
avoided.

Modern blades like this one comprise of ‘serpentine’ cooling passages. Compressed air is fed into the
blade from the bottom and the air snakes through a complex series of internal passages. These serpentine
designs are more efficient with its cooling air than former designs that included only single pass cooling
holes (Figure 1). Yet they also include some neat ideas of how to best use that cooling air. Figures 2
through 5 illustrate some of the strategies used to keep this particular blade as cool as possible.

Air inlets at root (bottom)

of blade

Not cooled Single Pass Serpentine Cooling

(solid blade) (uses lots of (more efficient use
cooling air) of cooling air)
Figure 1: (Left) Our turbine blade accepts cooling air through its root which then flows through a
complicated series of ‘serpentine’ cooling passages within the blade. (Right) Schematic showing
the evolution of cooling from no cooling to single pass cooling to serpentine.

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Airflow rates within blade regulated by dust

holes and how much air can escape

Figure 2: Photographs displaying the cross-sectioned turbine blade and the complexity of the cooling
passages. The cooling circuits are indicated. The airflow rates through each cooling circuit
are throttled by the dust holes that restrict air escape. For example, the center of the
airfoil requires the least amount of cooling so its airflow is far more restricted than the
hotter leading and trailing edges. Think of how complicated this would be to cast!

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Cooling air impinges on

leading edge, provides
amplified cooling

Cooling holes

Cooling air jets impinge

on leading edge

Figure 3: As the airfoil leading edge is one of the hottest regions of the blade, it uses
‘impingement’ cooling. Cooling air from the neighboring passage is jetted directly onto
the leading edge, providing an amplified cooling effect.

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Struts create turbulence

which increases the
cooling effects

Figure 4: The trailing edge is another hotspot on the airfoil. To provide additional cooling, the cooling
passage along the trailing edge comprises of struts that create turbulence, increasing the
cooling effects. The cooling air is then released out of the back of the airfoil.

Water Corrosion Case

Studies

Online Short Course

Feb 23rd, 2023!

www.steelimage.com/training

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Dust holes emit cooling air to

blanket the airfoil, creating an
imperfect shield from the
combustion gases.

Figure 5: Perhaps the most visible and iconic use of cooling air are the ‘dust holes’ covering the
airfoil. These small dust holes are carefully placed to emit cooling air to envelop the
blade as best they can. The objective is to create a thin blanket of cooling air that
provides a buffer between the incredibly hot combustion gases and the blade itself.

Remember, the dust holes also help regulate the airflow rates within the airfoil. For
example, the high density of dust holes at the leading edge both (a) creates a protective
buffer outside the airfoil and (b) ensures a high airflow rate within the blade along the
leading edge cooling circuit.

Shane Turcott, Steel Image Inc.

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