Conjugated heat transfer analysis of a film cooling passage with different rib configurations

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to analyze the effect of thermal conductivity on gas turbine blades, and to investigate the contribution of different rib configurations to the heat flux and the film cooling effectiveness. Design/methodology/approach - The Renormalization Group (RNG) model with enhanced wall treatment was used for the turbulence modeling, and the SIMPLE algorithm was used to handle the pressure-velocity coupling. Findings - A flame-shape distribution on the internal wall provides high heat flux compared to a hawk-shape distribution; the film cooling effectiveness on the external wall is enhanced for the lateral film cooling effectiveness by heat conduction and film cooling (convection); by comparing the square-rib and pin-rib configurations, the circular-rib configuration offers a higher film cooling effectiveness on the Aluminum wall. Research limitations/implications - In the present research, the combination of internal cooling and external cooling is used to predict cooling effectiveness on film-cooled flat plate; two kinds of different plate materials are used to obtain the influence of the thermal conductivity. The successful computational method should give guidelines for potential CFD users in engineering sciences. Practical implications - The results of the paper are of engineering interest where film cooling and ribbed surfaces are applied. The successful computational method will also serve as guidelines for potential users of CFD in design as well as research and development work. Originality/value - In the present research, the combination of internal cooling and external cooling is used to predict cooling effectiveness on film-cooled flat plate; two kinds of different plate materials are used to obtain the influence of the thermal conductivity.