Siemens Energy use a single integrated platform for gas turbine blade cooling prediction

Read how to predict turbine blade air flow and metal temperatures accurately and rapidly enough to impact day-to-day engineering decisions.

Safe and efficient operation of gas turbines relies on cooling the turbine blades via internal air channels. Simulation tools have long been used to predict metal temperatures and blade loads, but the process is often time-consuming and complex, with many stages and data transfers between different tools.

This white paper details how a single integrated platform predicting both fluid and solid temperatures in the blade is a step up from the traditional design workflow. This combined conjugate heat transfer/ computational fluid dynamics (CHT/CFD) workflow has enabled Siemens Energy to progress their designs beyond the limitations of conventional approaches. It increases both speed of simulations and accuracy of results and allows Siemens Energy to improve gas turbine blade cooling.

Learn more on the role of simulation in gas turbine design

The goal in turbine blade cooling simulation is to predict metal temperatures throughout the blade, as well as the aerodynamic loads and metal stresses. The standard process for this usually involves multiple software tools with data transfers between them. Often lower-order methods or approximations are used as inputs. 

This paper introduces a new workflow, where both conjugate heat transfer (CHT) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) are calculated using a single Multiphysics tool. This turbine blade simulation method means air temperatures and blade temperatures are calculated simultaneously. The paper discusses the benefits of this workflow and shows validation of results obtained using it.

This paper is of interest to anyone using virtual prototyping in their design process

The topics covered are relevant to engineering and design teams working to improve turbine performance and meet regulatory requirements. Virtual prototyping replaces the costly time-consuming reliance on physical prototypes with rapid simulation and digital testing. The workflow discussed in this white paper increases the value of virtual prototyping for gas turbine blade cooling and design.

Key benefits of our turbine simulation solutions

Our portfolio of solutions helps you to achieve your design goals faster. Our software enables you to predict turbine performance using digital tools. This reduces testing time and gives you confidence in designs from early in the design cycle. 

Use our turbine simulation tools to: 

• Combine CFD, CAE and system simulation tools as needed to examine performance on realistic geometry
• Speed up development times by replacing complex or outdated workflows
• Explore performance over a complete range of operating conditions
• Explore multiple designs digitally via virtual prototyping and reduce expensive physical testing.