Numerical Investigation on Diffusion Slot Hole With Various Cross-Sectional End Shapes

The diffusion hole constructed on a slot-type cross section has the potential to obtain high film cooling performance. However, the end shape of the cross section can greatly affect film cooling characteristics. This study examined eight cases of diffusion slot holes with various cross-sectional end shapes. The comparison of the eight diffusion slot holes and a typical fan-shaped hole was performed with a flat plate model using a three-dimensional (3D) steady computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method. The rectangular cross section had an aspect ratio of about 3.4. The end shape variation can be described based on sidewall contraction location, size, and form. The simulations were performed under an engine-representative condition of mainstream inlet Mach number 0.3 and turbulence intensity 5.2%. The simulated results showed that a strip separation bubble caused by inlet “jetting effect” occurs near the downstream wall of the diffusion slot hole and interacts with the diffusion flow. The different end shape of the rectangular cross section leads to different sidewall static pressure and exit velocity profiles, thereby produces three cooling effectiveness patterns, single-peak, bipeak, and tripeak patterns. The tripeak pattern produces higher cooling effectiveness and relatively uniform film coverage. The structure with moderate contraction and smooth transition on two sides of the downstream wall favors creation of a tripeak pattern. Compared with the fan-shaped hole, the discharge coefficient of diffusion slot hole is slightly small in low pressure ratio range, the pressure loss ratio has little difference.