Rotating heat transfer measurements on a multi-pass internal cooling channel - I rig development

The present contribution is focused on heat transfer measurements on internal cooling channels of a high pressure gas turbine blade in static and rotating conditions. A novel rig designed for the specific purpose was used to assess the heat transfer coefficients on a full internal cooling scheme of an idealized blade. The channel has a multi-pass design. Coolant enters at the blade hub in the leading edge region and move radially outwards inside a two-sided ribbed channel. The second passage is again a two-sided ribbed channel with a trapezoidal cross section of high aspect ratio, while inside the third leg low aspect-ratio cylindrical pin fins are arranged in a staggered configuration to promote flow turbulence. Inside the third passage, the coolant is progressively discharged at the blade trailing edge and finally at the blade tip. The test model differs with respect to the real design only because there is no curvature due to the blade camber. Conversely, the correct stagger angle of the real blade with respect to the rotation axis is preserved. Experiments were performed for static and rotating conditions with engine similar conditions of Re=21000 and Ro=0.074, both defined at the channel inlet. Transient liquid crystal technique was used for the measurement of the heat transfer coefficient (HTC) on both pressure and suction sides internal surfaces of the channel. From the spatially resolved HTC maps available, it is possible to characterize the thermal performances of the whole passage and to highlight the effect of rotation.