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Project Dates: 8/1/2007 - 9/30/2010

Area of Research: Aero/Heat Transfer

Federal Project Manager: Mark Freeman

Project Objective: A major goal of this project is to determine a reliable methodology for simulating contaminant deposition in a low-speed wind tunnel facility where testing is considerably less costly. The project is aimed at developing new cooling designs for turbine components that will minimize the effect of the depositions of contaminant particles on turbine components and maintain good film cooling performance even when surface conditions deteriorate. Moreover, a methodology will be established that allows controlled laboratory experiments to simulate relevant deposition mechanisms for gas turbines using coal-derived fuels. New film cooling designs for turbine airfoils and endwalls and new endwall contouring designs will result. Objectives are to develop an experimental methodology to actively simulate the deposition of syngas contaminant particles on film cooled turbine surfaces, using large-scale turbine vane cascade models, to investigate and quantify the effects of deposition on the film cooling of turbine airfoils and endwalls, and to identify and develop features that reduce depositions and/or limit the adverse effects of depositions on film cooling.