Investigation of Discrete-Hole Film Cooling Parameters Using Curved-Plate Models

Abstract

Computations have been conducted on curved, three-dimensional discrete-hole film cooling geometries that included the mainflow, injection hole, and supply plenum regions. Both convex and concave film cooling geometries were studied. The effects of several film cooling parameters have been investigated, including the effects of blowing ratio, injection angle, hole length, hole spacing, and hole staggering. The blowing ratio was varied from 0.5 to 1.5, the injection angle from 35 to 65 deg, the hole length from 1.75D to 6.0D, and the hole spacing from 2D to 3D. The staggered-hole arrangement considered included two rows. The computations were performed by solving the fully elliptic, three-dimensional Navier–Stokes equations over a body-fitted grid. Turbulence closure was achieved using a modified k–ε model in which algebraic relations were used for the turbulent viscosity and the turbulent Prandtl number. The results presented and discussed include plots of adiabatic effectiveness as well as plots of velocity contours and velocity vectors in cross-stream planes. The present study reveals that the blowing ratio, hole spacing, and hole staggering are among the most significant film cooling parameters. Furthermore: (1) The optimum blowing ratios for curved surfaces are higher than those for flat surfaces, (2) a reduction of hole spacing from 3D to 2D resulted in a very significant increase in adiabatic effectiveness, especially on the concave surface, (3) the increase in cooling effectiveness with decreasing hole spacing was found to be due to not only the increased coolant mass per unit area, but also the smaller jet penetration and the weaker counterrotating vortices, (4) for all practical purposes, the hole length was found to be a much less significant film cooling parameter.