Patent ID: 6478535
Filing Date: 2002-11-12
Classification: F01D,F05D,Y02T

Abstract:
A thin wall cooling system for an airfoil structure having an inner surface opposing an outer surface, the outer surface exposed to an elevated temperature environment and the inner surface defining an inner cavity, the airfoil structure further having a first edge opposing a second edge, the thin wall cooling system comprising:a plurality of in-wall channels formed between the opposing surfaces and extending from the first edge to the second edge, each in-wall channel having an entry opening and an exit opening, the plurality of in-wall channels divided into a first group of in-wall channels and a second group of in-wall channels, each in-wall channel in the first group having its entry opening generally located at the first edge, each in-wall channel in the second group having its entry opening generally located at the second edge, a first exit opening formed as a slot alternating with a crossover channel at an adjacent entry opening; a cooling fluid provided to the entry openings; and a cooling fluid exit structure providing fluid communication between the exit openings and the inner cavity; whereby a counterflow structure is established by the cooling fluid in the first group flowing in an opposite direction to the cooling fluid in the second group.