Large eddy simulation of turbine internal cooling ducts

•Complex internal cooling duct heat transfer is accurately predicted using LES.•For the current application, LES allows a wide range of computational studies.•The large turbulent scales reduce modelling complexity and cost.•Inflow turbulence has a low impact in predictive accuracy for this flow type.•LES modelling is more consistent when compared to the typically used RANS approaches. Large-Eddy Simulation (LES) and hybrid Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes–LES (RANS–LES) methods are applied to a turbine blade ribbed internal duct with a 180° bend containing 24 pairs of ribs. Flow and heat transfer predictions are compared with experimental data and found to be in agreement. The choice of LES model is found to be of minor importance as the flow is dominated by large geometric scale structures. This is in contrast to several linear and nonlinear RANS models, which display turbulence model sensitivity. For LES, the influence of inlet turbulence is also tested and has a minor impact due to the strong turbulence generated by the ribs. Large scale turbulent motions destroy any classical boundary layer reducing near wall grid requirements. The wake-type flow structure makes this and similar flows nearly Reynolds number independent, allowing a range of flows to be studied at similar cost. Hence LES is a relatively cheap method for obtaining accurate heat transfer predictions in these types of flows.