Heat transfer and friction loss characteristics of pin fin cooling configuration

Experimental tests have been conducted to investigate the effects of pin heights, spacings, and channel height to length ratios to the heat transfer and friction loss characteristics of pin fin cooling configurations. A total of nine pin fin and six cross pin configurations were tested. The test cores were built with length to diameter ratios similar to that used in convective cooled turbine blades. Steam was used as the heating medium and air as the cooling medium. The test results are correlated by the nondimensional parameters of j-factor, friction coefficient, and Reynolds number. The results indicate that the pin fin configuration provides a means to reduce the flow friction loss and yet to maintain a reasonably high heat transfer rate as compared to the cross pin configuration. Pin height shows more effect on pin fin performance than the pin spacing.