Turbine Component Cooling Channel Mesh with Intersection Chambers

Abstract

A mesh ( 35 ) of cooling channels ( 35 A, 35 B) with an array of cooling channel intersections ( 42 ) in a wall ( 21, 22 ) of a turbine component. A mixing chamber ( 42 A-C) at each intersection is wider (W 1, W 2 )) than a width (W) of each of the cooling channels connected to the mixing chamber. The mixing chamber promotes swirl, and slows the coolant for more efficient and uniform cooling. A series of cooling meshes (M 1, M 2 ) may be separated by mixing manifolds ( 44 ), which may have film cooling holes ( 46 ) and/or coolant refresher holes ( 48 ).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A turbine component comprising:
 a mesh of cooling channels comprising an array of cooling channel intersections located in a wall of the turbine component;   a mixing chamber located at each of a plurality of the cooling channel intersections;   wherein:
 each mixing chamber comprises a width that is wider than a respective width of each cooling channel connected thereto; 
 each mixing chamber comprises first and second widths that are perpendicular to each other and equal to each other; and 
 said two connected cooling channels define respective longitudinal axes that intersect the mixing chamber at an angle of 60 to 75 degrees with respect to each other as viewed perpendicularly to a plane defined by at least one of said longitudinal axes. 
   
     
     
         2 . The turbine component of  claim 1 , wherein each mixing chamber defines a shape that is not cylindrical or spherical. 
     
     
         3 . The turbine component of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling channels of the mesh are straight between the mixing chambers of the mesh. 
     
     
         4 . The turbine component of  claim 1 , wherein each mixing chamber extends only within a depth range of said connected cooling channels. 
     
     
         5 . The turbine component of  claim 1 , wherein each mixing chamber has a cylindrical or a spherical shape centered on the respective intersection and a diameter that is greater than the respective widths of the connected cooling channels. 
     
     
         6 . The turbine component of  claim 5 , wherein each mixing chamber comprises a spherical geometry that is truncated at opposite ends thereof, limiting the mixing chamber to a depth range of said connected channels. 
     
     
         7 . The turbine component of  claim 5 , wherein the mixing chambers of the mesh are separated by solid portions of the wall, each solid portion comprising eight surfaces, alternating between straight channel surfaces and spherical or cylindrical chamber surfaces. 
     
     
         8 . The turbine component of  claim 1 , further comprising a coolant inlet manifold along an inlet side of said interconnected mesh and a coolant mixing manifold in the wall, wherein the coolant mixing manifold extends along both an outlet side of said interconnected mesh and along an inlet side of a second interconnected mesh defined according to  claim 1  within the wall. 
     
     
         9 . The turbine component of  claim 8 , wherein the coolant mixing manifold comprises coolant refresher holes that meter a coolant into the coolant mixing manifold from a coolant supply channel in the turbine component. 
     
     
         10 . The turbine component of  claim 8 , wherein the coolant mixing manifold comprises film cooling holes that meter a coolant from the coolant mixing manifold to an outer surface of the wall. 
     
     
         11 . The turbine component of  claim 8 , wherein the wall comprises film cooling holes that meter a coolant from the coolant mixing manifold to an outer surface of the wall and coolant refresher holes that meter the coolant into the coolant mixing manifold from a coolant supply channel in the turbine component, wherein the film cooling holes are offset from the coolant refresher holes. 
     
     
         12 . The turbine component of  claim 1 , further comprising a refresher coolant inlet opening into each mixing chamber for delivery of fresh coolant thereto. 
     
     
         13 . A turbine component comprising:
 a first plurality of parallel cooling channels located in a layer below a surface of a wall of the component, each cooling channel from said first plurality of parallel cooling channels defining a respective cooling channel longitudinal axis; and   a second plurality of parallel cooling channels located in said layer, each cooling channel from said second plurality of parallel cooling channels defining a respective cooling channel longitudinal axis;   wherein:
 viewed along an axis substantially perpendicular to said surface, each cooling channel longitudinal axis of the first plurality of parallel cooling channels appears to intersect one or more cooling channel longitudinal axes of the second plurality of parallel cooling channels at an angle to define an interconnected mesh of the cooling channels comprising an array of apparent intersections of the cooling channels, each intersection comprising a mixing chamber; 
 each mixing chamber comprises a shape that defines an axis that is substantially centered on the intersection and normal to said surface; and 
 each mixing chamber has a diameter greater than a width of said each cooling channel of the intersection at a mid-depth of the respective cooling channel. 
   
     
     
         14 . The turbine component of  claim 13 , wherein a respective mixing chamber extends only within a depth range of said each cooling channel of the intersection. 
     
     
         15 . The turbine component of  claim 13 , wherein the mixing chambers of the mesh are separated by solid portions of the layer, each solid portion comprising eight surfaces alternating between straight channel surfaces and spherical or cylindrical chamber surfaces. 
     
     
         16 . The turbine component of  claim 13 , further comprising a coolant inlet manifold along an inlet side of said interconnected mesh, and a coolant mixing manifold in the wall, wherein the coolant mixing manifold extends along an outlet side of said interconnected mesh. 
     
     
         17 . The turbine component of  claim 16 , wherein the coolant mixing manifold comprises coolant refresher holes that meter a coolant into the coolant mixing manifold from a coolant supply channel in the turbine component. 
     
     
         18 . The turbine component of  claim 16 , wherein the coolant mixing manifold comprises film cooling holes that meter a coolant from the coolant mixing manifold to an outer surface of the wall. 
     
     
         19 . The turbine component of  claim 16 , wherein the wall comprises film cooling holes that meter a coolant from the coolant mixing manifold to an outer surface of the wall and coolant refresher holes that meter coolant into the coolant mixing manifold from a coolant supply channel in the turbine component, wherein the film cooling holes are offset from the coolant refresher holes. 
     
     
         20 . A turbine airfoil comprising:
 a first plurality of parallel cooling channels located in a layer below a surface of an outer wall of the airfoil, each cooling channel from said first plurality of parallel cooling channels defining a respective cooling channel longitudinal axis;   a second plurality of parallel cooling channels located in said layer; , each cooling channel from said second plurality of parallel cooling channels defining a respective cooling channel longitudinal axis   wherein:
 viewed along an axis substantially perpendicular to said surface, each cooling channel longitudinal axis of the first plurality of parallel cooling channels appears to intersect one or more cooling channel longitudinal axes of the second plurality of parallel cooling channels at an angle of 60 to 75 degrees in a first interconnected mesh of the cooling channels comprising an array of intersections of the cooling channels; 
 each intersection comprising a mixing chamber that is wider than each cooling channel of the intersection at a mid-depth of said each cooling channel of the intersection; 
 the cooling channels of the mesh are straight between the mixing chambers of the mesh; 
   a coolant inlet manifold located along an inlet side of said first interconnected mesh;   a coolant mixing manifold located in the wall along an outlet side of said first interconnected mesh and along an inlet side of a second interconnected cooling channel mesh within the layer;   wherein:
 the coolant mixing manifold comprises film cooling outlet holes or coolant refresher inlet holes.