Cooled composite vanes for turbine nozzles

Abstract

A turbine nozzle has inner and outer shrouds structurally connected by hollow core members which together with nose and tail inserts retained in the shrouds form airfoil-shaped vanes. Openings in one of the shrouds supply cooling air to the hollow vane cores whose walls have orifices to impinge air upon the inserts. Spent air from the nose insert film cools the core. Air directed at the tail insert divides to flow through holes in the insert and to film cool the insert. Orifices and holes are cast or readily drilled into the parts prior to their assembly. For superior resistance to high temperatures, the inserts are preferably columnar-grained or monocrystalline superalloy castings which are brazed or welded into the shrouds and are replaceable to extend nozzle service life. Alternatively, ceramic or metal inserts are mechanically retained in the shrouds.