Influence of rib turbulators on pin-fin heat transfer in the trailing region of gas turbine vane - A numerical study

A numerical investigation is carried out for estimating the influence of rib turbulators on heat transfer and pressure drop of staggered non-uniform pin-fin arrays of different shapes, in a simulated cambered vane trailing region. Pin-fins of square, circular and the diamond shapes, each of two sizes (d) were chosen. The ratio of span-wise pitch to longitudinal pitch is 1.06 and that to the pin size are 4.25 and 3.03, for all pin shapes. A constant heat flux boundary condition is assumed over the coolant channel walls, rib surfaces and circumferential faces of the pin-fins. Reynolds number is varied (20,000<ReD<40,000) by changing the coolant outlet to inlet pressure ratio. Pin end-wall and pin surface averaged heat transfer coefficients and Nusselt numbers are estimated and detailed contours of heat transfer coefficient on both the pressure and suction surfaces are presented. Whilst there is an enhancement in heat transfer and pressure drop with ribs for all the pin shapes, diamond pins have shown the highest enhancement values for both ribbed and non-ribbed configuration. Copyright © 2006 by ASME.