Heat Transfer Analysis Of A Wedge Shaped Duct With Pin Fin And Pedestal Arrays: A Comparison Between Numerical And Experimental Results

The use of pin fin arrays in channels is one of the best choices to enhance overall heat transfer in gas turbine trailing edge blade cooling. Furthermore, in this particular application, the use of cross-pins in the trailing edge section of a turbine blade is a good way for supplying structural integrity to the blade itself. In this paper, results of several 3D RANS calculations performed in channels with cross-pins disposition such as in a typical trailing edge of a gas turbine blade are shown. Numerical calculations were compared with experimental results obtained on the same geometries using a transient Thermochromic Liquid Crystals (TLC) based technique. Goals of this comparison are both the evaluation of the accuracy of CFD packages with standard two equation turbulence models in heat transfer problems with complex geometries and the analysis of flow details to complete and support experimental activity. Two computational domains have been considered: they both consist in a wedge shaped channel with a stream-wise normal pin fin or pedestal arrays. The aim of the numerical analysis is the evaluation of convective Heat Transfer Coefficient (HTC) on the planar bottom surface of the wedge-shaped duct: this surface is commonly named “endwall” surface. Detailed analysis of the flow field points out the coexistence of an horse-shoe vortex, a stagnant wake behind the pin and a mean flow acceleration due to convergent shape of the channel. Calculations reveal the presence of a weak jet-like flow field toward endwall surfaces caused by the strong recirculation behind each pin.