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In the present paper the combined effects of rotation and channel orientation on heat transfer and pressure drop along two scaled up matrix geometries suitable for trailing edge cooling of gas turbine airfoils are investigated. Experimental tests were carried out under static and rotating conditions. Rotating tests were performed for two different orientations of the matrix channel with respect to the rotating plane: 0deg and 30deg. This latter configuration is representative of the exit angle of a real gas turbine blade. Test models are designed in order to replicate an internal geometry suitable for blade trailing edge cooling, with a 90deg turning flow before entering the matrix array which has an axial development. Both the investigated geometries have a cross angle of 45deg between ribs and different values of sub-channels and rib thickness: one has four sub-channels and lower rib thickness (open area 84.5%), one has six sub-channels and higher rib thickness (open area 53.5%). Both geometries have a converging angle of 11.4deg. Matrix models have been axially divided in 5 aluminum elements per side in order to evaluate the heat transfer coefficient in 5 different locations in the main flow direction. Metal temperature was measured with embedded thermocouples and thin-foil heaters were used to provide a constant heat flux during each test. Heat transfer coefficients were measured applying a steady state technique based on a regional average method and varying the sub-channel Reynolds number Res from 2000 to 10000 and the sub-channel Rotation number Ros from 0 to 0.250 in order to have both Reynolds and Rotation number similitude with the real conditions. A post-processing procedure, which takes into account the temperature gradients within the model, was developed to correctly compute average heat transfer coefficients starting from discrete temperature measurements.

Matrix cooling systems are relatively unknown among gas turbines manufacturers of the western world. In comparison to conventional turbulated serpentines or pin-fin geometries, a lattice-matrix structure can potentially provide higher heat transfer enhancement levels with similar overall pressure losses. This experimental investigation provides heat transfer distribution and pressure drop of four different lattice-matrix geometries with crossing angle of 45 deg between ribs. The four geometries are characterized by two different values of rib height which span from a possible application in the mid chord region up to the trailing edge region of a gas turbine airfoil. For each rib height two different configurations have been studied: one having four entry channels and lower rib thickness (open area 84.5%), one having six entry channels and higher rib thickness (open area 53.5%). Experiments were performed varying the Reynolds number Res, based on the inlet sub-channel hydraulic diameter, from 2000 to 12000. Heat transfer coefficients were measured using steady state tests and applying a regional average method; test models have been divided into 20 stainless steel elements in order to have a Biot number similitude with real conditions. Elements are 10 per side, 5 in the main flow direction and 2 in the tangential one. Metal temperature was measured with embedded thermocouples and 20 thin-foil heaters were used to provide a constant heat flux during each test. A specific data reduction procedure has been developed so as to take into account the fin effectiveness and the increased heat transfer surface area provided by the ribs. Pressure drops were also evaluated measuring pressure along the test models. Uniform streamwise distributions of Nusselt number Nus have been obtained for each Reynolds number. Measurements show that the heat transfer enhancement level Nus/Nu0 decreases with Reynolds but is always higher than 2. Results have been compared with previous literature data on similar geometries and show a good agreement.

Matrix cooling systems are relatively unknown among gas turbines manufacturers of the western world. In comparison to conventional turbulated serpentines or pin–fin geometries, a lattice–matrix structure can potentially provide higher heat transfer enhancement levels with similar overall pressure losses. This experimental investigation provides heat transfer distribution and pressure drop of four different lattice–matrix geometries with crossing angle of 45 deg between ribs. The four geometries are characterized by two different values of rib height, which span from a possible application in the midchord region up to the trailing edge region of a gas turbine airfoil. For each rib height, two different configurations have been studied: one having four entry channels and lower rib thickness (open area 84.5%), one having six entry channels and higher rib thickness (open area 53.5%). Experiments were performed varying the Reynolds number Res, based on the inlet subchannel hydraulic diameter, from 2000 to 12,000. Heat transfer coefficients (HTCs) were measured using steady state tests and applying a regional average method; test models have been divided into 20 stainless steel elements in order to have a Biot number similitude with real conditions. Elements are 10 per side, five in the main flow direction, and two in the tangential one. Metal temperature was measured with embedded thermocouples, and 20 thin-foil heaters were used to provide a constant heat flux during each test. A specific data reduction procedure has been developed so as to take into account the fin effectiveness and the increased heat transfer surface area provided by the ribs. Pressure drops were also evaluated measuring pressure along the test models. Uniform streamwise distributions of Nusselt number Nus have been obtained for each Reynolds number. Measurements show that the heat transfer enhancement level Nus/Nu0 decreases with Reynolds but is always higher than 2. Results have been compared with previous literature data on similar geometries and show a good agreement.