Axially cooled airfoil

Abstract

An airfoil is provided. The airfoil includes an airfoil blade. The airfoil blade has a trailing edge, a pressure sidewall and a suction sidewall, where a portion of the airfoil blade has a widest cross section when measured between the suction sidewall and the pressure sidewall. A plenum is located along the widest cross section. At least one passageway extends in an axial direction from the plenum and terminates at the trailing edge. The at least one passageway is in fluid communication with and receives a flow from the plenum.

1 . An airfoil, comprising:
 an airfoil blade having a trailing edge, a pressure sidewall and a suction sidewall, a widest cross section of the airfoil blade defined between the suction sidewall and the pressure sidewall;   a plenum located along the widest cross section; and   at least one passageway extending in an axial direction from the plenum and terminating at the trailing edge, the at least one passageway in fluid communication with and receiving a flow from the plenum.   
     
     
         2 . The airfoil of  claim 1 , wherein the airfoil blade includes a root and a tip portion, wherein a plurality of passageways are located between the root portion and the tip portion. 
     
     
         3 . The airfoil of  claim 2 , wherein the root is coupled to a platform of the airfoil. 
     
     
         4 . The airfoil of  claim 2 , comprising at least one tip passageway that terminates at the tip portion of the airfoil blade. 
     
     
         5 . The airfoil of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one passageway includes a generally curved profile. 
     
     
         6 . The airfoil of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of passageways that have a staggered configuration with respect to one another. 
     
     
         7 . The airfoil of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one passageway has a tapered configuration, wherein a first diameter of the at least one passageway is measured at a proximate end of the at least one passageway with respect to the plenum and a second diameter is measured at a distal end of the at least one passageway with respect to the plenum, wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter. 
     
     
         8 . The airfoil of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one passageway includes a plurality of protrusions that create a turbulence in the flow located in the at least one passageway. 
     
     
         9 . The airfoil of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one passageway is a plurality of passageways, a portion of the plurality of passageways having a stepped configuration where a first diameter of the portion of the plurality of passageways is measured at a proximate end of the plurality of passageways with respect to a plenum, and a second diameter is measured at a distal end of the plurality of passageways with respect to the plenum, wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter and the first diameter to the second diameter changes by a step located in the plurality of passageways. 
     
     
         10 . The airfoil of  claim 9 , wherein a remaining portion of the plurality of passageways have the first diameter being less than the second diameter. 
     
     
         11 . The airfoil of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one passageway is a plurality of passageways, wherein least one of the passageways is oriented to extend diagonally and cross over another one of the passageways. 
     
     
         12 . The airfoil of  claim 1 , wherein the plenum is located along a leading edge of the airfoil. 
     
     
         13 . An airfoil, comprising:
 a platform;   an airfoil blade, comprising:
 a leading edge, a trailing edge, a root and a tip portion, the root of the airfoil blade being coupled to the platform; 
 a plenum located along the leading edge; and 
 a plurality of passageways located between the root portion and the tip portion, at least one of the plurality of passageways extending in an axial direction from the plenum and terminating at the trailing edge, and the plurality of passageways in fluid communication with and receiving a flow from the plenum. 
   
     
     
         14 . The airfoil of  claim 13 , comprising at least one tip passageway that terminates at the tip portion of the airfoil blade. 
     
     
         15 . The airfoil of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the plurality of passageways includes a generally curved profile. 
     
     
         16 . The airfoil of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of passageways have a staggered configuration with respect to one another. 
     
     
         17 . The airfoil of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the plurality of passageways has a tapered configuration, wherein a first diameter of the at least one of the plurality of passageways is measured at a proximate end with respect to the plenum and a second diameter is measured at a distal end with respect to the plenum, wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter. 
     
     
         18 . The airfoil of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of passageways includes a plurality of protrusions that create a turbulence in the flow. 
     
     
         19 . The airfoil of  claim 13 , wherein a portion of the plurality of passageways have a stepped configuration where a first diameter of the portion of the plurality of passageways is measured at a proximate end with respect to a plenum, and a second diameter is measured at a distal end with respect to the plenum, wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter and the first diameter to the second diameter changes by a step located in the plurality of passageways. 
     
     
         20 . An airfoil, comprising:
 a platform;   an airfoil blade, comprising:
 a leading edge, a trailing edge, a root, and a tip portion, the root of the airfoil blade being coupled to the platform; 
 a serpentine passageway located along the leading edge; 
 a plurality of passageways located between the root portion and the tip portion, at least one of the plurality of passageways extending in an axial direction from the serpentine passageway and terminating at the trailing edge, at least one of the plurality of passageways including a generally curved profile, and the plurality of passageways in fluid communication with and receiving a flow from the serpentine passageway.