Abstract: A gas turbine having an annular flowpath defined between concentric inner radial and outer radial boundaries. A plenum is positioned just outboard of the outer radial boundary that wraps circumferentially in spaced relation thereto. The height of the plenum is defined radially between a floor and ceiling. The plenum includes an inlet formed through the ceiling at a first end and spaced outlet ports formed through the floor. The plenum includes a divider baffle that spans the width of the plenum and extends between the first end and the second end of the plenum so to divide the plenum into radially stacked first and second compartments. The first compartment connects directly to the inlet, while the second compartment connects directly to the outlet ports. The height of the first compartment tapers between a greater height at the first end and a lesser height at the second end of the plenum.

Abstract: A turbine rotor blade that includes an interior cooling configuration having a section configuration that includes: a main channel divided into three non-overlapping segments in which an upstream segment connects to a downstream segment via a transition segment positioned therebetween; and one or more branching channels extending from the main channel via connections each makes to the transition segment. The transition segment includes a variable cross-sectional flow area that accommodates a main channel flow area reduction occurring between the upstream segment and the downstream segment. The one or more branching channels having a total branching channel flow area. The section configuration is configured according to a section channel ratio that is defined as the main channel flow area reduction divided by the total branching channel flow area, with the value of the section channel ratio being configured according a desired coolant flow characteristic.

Abstract: A gas turbine having an annular flowpath defined between concentric inner radial and outer radial boundaries. A plenum is positioned just outboard of the outer radial boundary that wraps circumferentially in spaced relation thereto. The height of the plenum is defined radially between a floor and ceiling. The plenum includes an inlet formed through the ceiling at a first end and spaced outlet ports formed through the floor. The plenum includes a divider baffle that spans the width of the plenum and extends between the first end and the second end of the plenum so to divide the plenum into radially stacked first and second compartments. The first compartment connects directly to the inlet, while the second compartment connects directly to the outlet ports. The height of the first compartment tapers between a greater height at the first end and a lesser height at the second end of the plenum.

Abstract: A turbine rotor blade that includes an interior cooling configuration having a section configuration that includes: a main channel divided into three non-overlapping segments in which an upstream segment connects to a downstream segment via a transition segment positioned therebetween; and one or more branching channels extending from the main channel via connections each makes to the transition segment. The transition segment includes a variable cross-sectional flow area that accommodates a main channel flow area reduction occurring between the upstream segment and the downstream segment. The one or more branching channels having a total branching channel flow area. The section configuration is configured according to a section channel ratio that is defined as the main channel flow area reduction divided by the total branching channel flow area, with the value of the section channel ratio being configured according a desired coolant flow characteristic.