Multi-objective optimization of transpiration cooling for high pressure turbine vane

Transpiration cooling is a promising cooling measure for high-temperature components in gas turbines. Although the flow and heat transfer characteristics of transpiration cooling have been investigated in several experimental and numerical researches, the design optimization of transpiration cooling is less studied until now. In this paper, a multi-objective optimization framework based on the ANN surrogate model and the NSGA-II is built to optimize the transpiration cooling of C3X turbine vane. The transpiration cooled C3X vane consists of multiple porous zones whose porosities could be different and are treated as the design parameters. The optimization objectives are minimum area-averaged vane surface temperature and minimum aerodynamic loss. A total of 960 CFD simulations are conducted to prepare the sample dataset. After the validation of the surrogate-based optimization framework, the Pareto front is obtained as an output. Three representative Pareto-optimal points are chosen from the Pareto front, considering the best cooling performance, the lowest aerodynamic loss, and a balance between them. The porosity distributions and coolant allocations, the cooling performances, and the aerodynamic losses for the three Pareto points are discussed, and the involved flow and heat transfer characteristics are analyzed. The results reveal that to reach a balance between the cooling efficiency and the aerodynamic loss for an optimal transpiration cooled C3X vane, coolant should be appropriately distributed to the leading edge, as well as zones immediately downstream of the leading edge.