Effect of sidewall slots and pin fins on the performance of latticework cooling channel for turbine blades

Latticework channel is a typical structure applied in turbine blade cooling. This paper aims to study the convective heat transfer in latticework cooling channels experimentally and numerically. Firstly, heat transfer in a test latticework channel is measured using transient liquid crystal (TLC) technique under different Reynolds numbers and detailed Nusselt number distribution is obtained. Pressure drop is also measured. Secondly, a comparison between experimental data and numerical solution is presented, which shows a good agreement in terms of pressure drop and heat transfer. Lastly, hybrid structures of latticework channel and slots or pin fins are studied by numerical simulation, the effects of slot width, slot shape and pin fin diameter and layouts on the thermal performance of latticework channel are investigated. The result shows that slot can reduce overall heat transfer and pressure drop, while pin fin can increase heat transfer and pressure drop. Both of them improve the heat transfer uniformity markedly. The thermal performance of latticework channel can be improved significantly with the introduction of sidewall slot and pin fin.