A system for controlling a cooling flow from a compressor section of a gas turbine

A system (100) for controlling a flow rate of a compressed cooling medium between a compressor section (12) and a turbine section (16) of a gas turbine (100) includes a flow path (102) that is defined between the compressor section and the turbine section of the gas turbine and a thermally actuated variable flow valve (104) disposed within the flow path. The variable flow valve defines an opening (120) that changes in size based on a temperature of the compressed cooling medium flowing therethrough.