IP Library Granted Patent US 10,371,056
Granted Patent B2
US 10,371,056 · App. 14/964,984 · Granted Aug 6, 2019

Multi-source turbine cooling air

Inventors: Brian D. Merry (Andover, CT); Gabriel L. Suciu (Glastonbury, CT); William K. Ackermann (East Hartford, CT)
Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
F02C7/185F01D5/022F01D5/081F01D25/08F02C6/08F02C7/12F02C7/36F02K3/06F05D2220/32F05D2260/213F05D2260/40311Y02T50/676
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,371,056
App. No.
14/964,984
Granted
Aug 6, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A gas turbine engine comprises a compressor section and a turbine section, with the turbine section having a first stage blade row and a downstream blade row. A higher pressure tap is tapped from a higher pressure first location in the compressor. A lower pressure tap is tapped from a lower pressure location in the compressor which is at a lower pressure than the first location. The higher pressure tap passes through a heat exchanger, and then is delivered to cool the first stage blade row in the turbine section. The lower pressure tap is delivered to at least partially cool the downstream blade row.

Claims (35)

1. A gas turbine engine comprising:

a compressor section and a turbine section, with said turbine section having a first stage blade row and a downstream blade row;

a higher pressure tap tapped from a higher pressure first location in said compressor;

a lower pressure tap tapped from a lower pressure location in said compressor which is at a lower pressure than said first location, said higher pressure tap passing through a heat exchanger, and then being delivered to cool said first stage blade row in said turbine section, and said lower pressure tap being delivered to at least partially cool said downstream blade row; and

said higher pressure tap passing from said heat exchanger toward said turbine section, and split into a first path heading radially outwardly to cool an upstream end of said first stage blade row, and a second path moving radially inwardly of a hub mounting said first stage blade row and then moving radially outwardly to cool a downstream end of said first stage blade row.

2. The gas turbine engine as set forth in claim 1 , wherein radially outwardly extending air from said higher pressure tap also cooling a vane mounted intermediate said first stage blade row and said downstream blade row.

3. The gas turbine engine as set forth in claim 2 , wherein said radially outwardly extending air from said higher pressure tap also cooling an upstream end of said downstream blade row.

4. The gas turbine engine as set forth in claim 3 , wherein said lower pressure tap passing radially inwardly of said first stage blade row, and axially beyond said downstream blade row and then radially outwardly to cool a downstream end of said downstream stage blade row.

5. The gas turbine engine as set forth in claim 4 , wherein said downstream stage blade row is a second stage, and said first stage blade row and said second stage rotating together as a single rotor.

6. The gas turbine engine as set forth in claim 5 , wherein a fan is positioned upstream of said compressor section and said fan delivering air into a bypass duct as propulsion air, and into said compressor section with a bypass ratio defined as the volume ratio of air delivered into said bypass duct compared to the volume of air delivered into said compressor, with said bypass ratio being greater than or equal to about 6.0.

7. The gas turbine engine as set forth in claim 6 , wherein said bypass ratio is greater than or equal to about 10.0.

8. The gas turbine engine as set forth in claim 7 , wherein a fan drive turbine rotor is positioned downstream of a turbine rotor including said first stage blade row and said downstream blade row, with said fan drive turbine driving said fan through a gear reduction.

9. The gas turbine engine as set forth in claim 8 , wherein a gear ratio of said gear reduction is greater than or equal to about 2.3:1.

10. The gas turbine engine as set forth in claim 1 , wherein radially outwardly extending air from said higher pressure tap also cooling a vane mounted intermediate said first stage blade row and said downstream blade row.

11. The gas turbine engine as set forth in claim 10 , wherein said radially outwardly extending air from said higher pressure tap also cooling an upstream end of said downstream blade row.

12. The gas turbine engine as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said lower pressure tap passing radially inwardly of said first stage blade row, and axially beyond said downstream blade row and then radially outwardly to cool a downstream end of said downstream stage blade row.

13. The gas turbine engine as set forth in claim 12 , wherein said downstream stage blade row is a second stage, and said first stage blade row and said second stage rotating together as a single rotor.

14. The gas turbine engine as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said lower pressure tap passing radially inwardly of said first stage blade row, and axially beyond said downstream blade row and then radially outwardly to cool a downstream end of said downstream stage blade row.

15. The gas turbine engine as set forth in claim 14 , wherein said downstream stage blade row is a second stage, and said first stage blade row and said second stage rotating together as a single rotor.

16. The gas turbine engine as set forth in claim 15 , wherein a fan is positioned upstream of said compressor section and said fan delivering air into a bypass duct as propulsion air, and into said compressor section with a bypass ratio defined as the volume ratio of air delivered into said bypass duct compared to the air delivered into said compressor, with said bypass ratio being greater than or equal to about 6.0.

17. A gas turbine engine comprising:

a compressor section and a turbine section, with said turbine section having a first stage blade row and a downstream blade row:

a higher pressure tap tapped from a higher pressure first location in said compressor; a lower pressure tap tapped from a lower pressure location in said compressor which is at a lower pressure than said first location, said higher pressure tap passing through a heat exchanger, and then being delivered to cool said first stage blade row in said turbine section, and said lower pressure tap being delivered to at least partially cool said downstream blade row; and

wherein a fan is positioned upstream of said compressor section and said fan delivering air into a bypass duct as propulsion air, and into said compressor section with a bypass ratio defined as the volume ratio of air delivered into said bypass duct compared to the air delivered into said compressor, with said bypass ratio being greater than or equal to about 6.0.

18. The gas turbine engine as set forth in claim 17 , wherein said bypass ratio is greater than or equal to about 10.0.

19. The gas turbine engine as set forth in claim 17 , wherein said higher pressure tap passing from said heat exchanger toward said turbine section, and split into a first path heading radially outwardly to cool an upstream end of said first stage blade row, and a second path moving radially inwardly of a hub mounting said first stage blade row and then moving radially outwardly to cool a downstream end of said first stage blade row.

20. A gas turbine comprising:

a compressor section and a turbine section, with said turbine section having a first stage blade row and a downstream blade row;

a higher pressure tap tapped from a higher pressure first location in said compressor;

a lower pressure tap tapped from a lower pressure location in said compressor which is at a lower pressure than said first location, said higher pressure tap passing through a heat exchanger, and then being delivered to cool said first stage blade row in said turbine section, and said lower pressure tap being delivered to at least partially cool said downstream blade row;

said higher pressure tap passing from said heat exchanger toward said turbine section, and split into a first path heading radially outwardly to cool an upstream end of said first stage blade row, and a second path moving radially inwardly of a hub mounting said first stage blade row and then moving radially outwardly to cool a downstream end of said first stage blade row;

wherein said lower pressure tap passing radially inwardly of said first stage blade row, and axially beyond said downstream blade row and then radially outward to cool a downstream end of said downstream stage blade row;

wherein said downstream stage blade row is a second stage, and said first stage blade row and said second stage rotating together as a single rotor; and

wherein a fan drive turbine rotor is positioned downstream of a turbine rotor including said first stage blade row and said downstream blade row, with said fan drive turbine driving said fan through a gear reduction.

21. The gas turbine engine as set forth in claim 20 , wherein said higher pressure tap passing from said heat exchanger toward said turbine section, and split into a first path heading radially outwardly to cool an upstream end of said first stage blade row, and a second path moving radially inwardly of a hub mounting said first stage blade row and then moving radially outwardly to cool a downstream end of said first stage blade row.

Assignments (5)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 27, 2023
From: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RTX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064714/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE AND REMOVE PATENT APPLICATION NUMBER 11886281 AND ADD PATENT APPLICATION NUMBER 14846874. TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY ADDRESS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 054062 FRAME: 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF ADDRESS. Recorded Mar 4, 2021
From: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 055659/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 4, 2020
From: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 054062/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 3, 2020
From: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 052822/0877 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 10, 2015
From: MERRY, BRIAN D.; SUCIU, GABRIEL L.; ACKERMANN, WILLIAM K.
To: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 037260/0402 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170167386A1 · Jun 15, 2017