Patent ID: 7296972
Filing Date: 2007-11-20
Classification: F01D,F05D

Abstract:
1. A turbine airfoil, comprising: a generally elongated airfoil formed from an outer wall, a leading edge, a trailing edge, a pressure side, a suction side, a tip at a first end, a root coupled to the airfoil at an end generally opposite the first end for supporting the airfoil and for coupling the airfoil to a disc, and at least one cavity in the elongated airfoil forming a cooling system in the airfoil; wherein the cooling system comprises a pressure side serpentine cooling channel formed from a first outboard channel, a first inboard channel coupled to an outboard end of the first outboard channel and extending toward the root, and a second outboard channel coupled to an inboard end of the first inboard channel and extending toward the tip; a suction side serpentine cooling channel formed from a first outboard channel and a first inboard channel coupled to an outboard end of the first outboard channel and extending toward the root; wherein the first outboard channel of the suction side serpentine cooling channel is positioned between the second outboard channel of the pressure side serpentine cooling channel and the trailing edge of the airfoil, and the first inboard channel of the suction side serpentine cooling channel is positioned between the first inboard channel of the pressure side serpentine cooling channel and second outboard channel of the pressure side serpentine cooling channel; and wherein cooling fluids in the pressure side serpentine cooling channel flow in a general direction from the leading edge toward the trailing edge and cooling fluids in the suction side serpentine cooling channel flow in a general direction from the trailing edge toward the leading edge.