The presented paper concerns the idea of using a sound wave to intensify the heat transfer in thermally loaded elements of a gas turbine. The general idea of this type of cooling is described and numerical studies are presented. The applied numerical model is validated based on experimental studies. The research is focused on an improvement in cooling of thermally loaded blade corners. A new concept of the vane internal geometry that improves cooling conditions by generating a sound wave and causing unsteadiness in the flow is compared with the currently used solution. Additionally, a conjugate heat transfer analysis is performed, which allows a better validation of the results. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.