Experimental Investigation on the Effect of Mainstream Turbulence on Full Coverage Film Cooling Effectiveness for a Turbine Guide Vane

Experiments have been performed to investigate the effect of mainstream turbulence on the three-dimensional distribution of the full coverage film cooling effectiveness for two enlarged actual twisted vanes with cylindrical or shaped holes. The film cooling effectiveness was measured by transient liquid crystal technique at mainstream turbulence intensities of 2%, 9% and 15%. The mass flow rate ratios range from 5.5% to 12.5%. There are 3, 8 and 7 rows of film holes on the suction side, leading edge and pressure side, respectively. Results show that for the cylindrical hole vane the high mainstream turbulence intensity decreases the film cooling effectiveness in the top region and down region of pressure side in the low mass flow rate ratio of 5.5%, while the effect is opposite in the high mass flow rate ratio of 12.5%. The film cooling effectiveness in the middle region of pressure side decreases obviously with the increase of the turbulence at the low mass flow rate ratio of 5.5%, while the influence of increasing turbulence weakens gradually with the increase of mass flow rate ratio. Moreover, the high mainstream turbulence improves the film cooling effectiveness in the further downstream of the holes on suction side at the high mass flow rate ratio of 12.5%. For the shaped hole vane, the increase of mainstream turbulence decreases the film cooling effectiveness at all mass flow rate ratios. This study reveals the influence rule of the mainstream turbulence on the film cooling effectiveness in the different regions of the three-dimensional vane surface. The results would guide the designs of engineering heat transfer with application in gas turbine blade/vane cooling.