Effect of the Combustor Wall on the Aerothermal Field of a Nozzle Guide Vane

Abstract

In gas turbines with can combustors, the trailing edge (TE) of the combustor transition duct wall is found upstream of every second vane. This paper presents an experimental and numerical investigation of the effect of the combustor wall TE on the aerothermal performance of the nozzle guide vane. In the measurements carried out in a high-speed experimental facility, the wake of this wall is shown to increase the aerodynamic loss of the vane. On the other hand, the wall alters secondary flow structures and has a protective effect on the heat transfer in the leading edge-endwall junction, a critical region for component life. The different clocking positions of the vane relative to the combustor wall are tested experimentally and are shown to alter the aerothermal field. The experimental methods and processing techniques adopted in this work are used to highlight the differences between the different cases studied.