Numerical Analysis of Heat Pipe Turbine Vane Cooling

Abstract

A numerical model was developed to simulate transient performance of a heat pipe turbine vane under typical gas turbine engine conditions. Curvilinear coordinates were used to describe the three-dimensional wall and wick heat conduction coupled with the quasi-one-dimensional vapor flow. A unique numerical procedure including two iterative “estimate-correction” processes was proposed to efficiently solve the governing equations along with the boundary conditions. Comparisons with experimental results validated the numerical model and the solution method. A detailed numerical simulation of the heat pipe vane’s transient performance indicated the benefits of incorporating heat pipe vane cooling as well as the areas where precautions should be taken while designing heat pipe vanes.