Optimization design and experimental research on cooling performance of U-shaped latticework cooling structure with perforations used for gas turbine blade

Latticework cooling structure provides great structural strength and well heat transfer enhancement commonly used for internal cooling of turbine blades. However, traditional rectangle latticework cooling structure raises friction loss badly and reduces cooling efficiency of turbine blades due to the increase of wetted surface area. A new latticework cooling structure with U-shaped sub-channel and perforations on raffles was proposed, aiming to promote heat transfer and reduce friction loss for latticework cooling structure. Numerical simulation, optimization method and experimental test are conducted to investigate heat transfer and fluid flow characteristics of this new latticework cooling structure. Optimization design based on response surface approximation model and non-dominated sorting genetic algorithms-Ⅱ was conducted and objectives were to maximize heat transfer and minimize friction loss. The optimal U-shaped latticework cooling structure with perforations was obtained and experimental research was conducted. Characteristics of heat transfer and friction loss between the optimal U-shaped latticework cooling structure with perforations and the rectangle latticework cooling structure were compared and analyzed. The experiment results showed that the overall heat transfer and thermal–hydraulic performances of the optimal U-shaped latticework cooling structure with perforations are 21.6–37.0% and 27.9–46.7% respectively higher than those of the rectangle latticework cooling structure while friction loss performance of the former is 16.3–29.2% lower than that of the latter as Reynolds number increases from 5000 to 50000. Moreover, empirical formulas for the optimal U-shaped latticework cooling structure with perforations and the rectangle latticework cooling structure are obtained. The present study indicates that the U-shaped latticework cooling structure with perforations not only maintains the superior heat transfer performance, but also reduces friction loss, which is mainly due to the perforation ribs reduce flow distance for part of coolant and also provide an impingement effect for the heated wall and enhance flow interactions and flow mixing.