Propulsor with inlet fluid inducer

a technology of inlet fluid and propellant, which is applied in the direction of propulsive elements, marine propulsion, vessel construction, etc., can solve the problems of limited overall efficiency of enclosed rotor propulsion systems for marine craft, waterjets and applicants' enclosed ventilated rotor hydro air drive®, and severely limited overall efficiency of waterjets

Inactive Publication Date: 2006-10-05
BURG PAULETTE RENEE
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] A directly related object of the invention is that the inlet fluid inducer provide a uniformity to the energy in the fluid supplied to the fluid energizing device.
[0019] A directly related object of the invention is that the fluid directing device has the ability to, in at least one mode of its operation, restrict gas from passing to the fluid energizing device.

Problems solved by technology

Enclosed rotor propulsion system for marine craft, such as waterjets and Applicant's enclosed ventilated rotor Hydro Air Drive® (HAD) invention, are limited in the overall efficiency they can realize by the efficiency of recovery by their water inlets of the fluid available at their water inlets.
However, the overall efficiency of a waterjet is severely limited by its inlet's ability to recovery oncoming fluids efficiently.
However, the lack of inlet suction of the HAD does hamper the ability of its inlet to fully recovery fluid approaching its inlet.
The obvious problem with this is twofold, to wit: 1) Excessive drag due to high frontal area and 2) Very deep draft.
Therefore the approach of an inline inlet is generally impractical.

Method used

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  • Propulsor with inlet fluid inducer
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  • Propulsor with inlet fluid inducer

Examples

Experimental program
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Embodiment Construction

[0049]FIG. 1 shows a centerline cross-sectional profile view of a prior art waterjet propulsor 53 as it is propelling a vehicle 39 forward at high speed. Note that high speed is defined herein as being forward speeds of 15 knots or more and low speeds as speeds of less than 15 knots. Shown also are the shaft 31, fluid energizing device which in this case is a rotor 42, stator including flow straightening stator vanes 40, and discharge nozzle 41. Other items of interest include inlet housing 34, vehicle hull 39, waterline 45, waterflow arrows 37, turbulent water flow arrows 50, and thrust arrow 51. The power source is not shown to simplify the drawings. Note that the turbulent water flow arrows 37 indicate that the water flow is separating over the upper surface of the inlet housing 34.

[0050]FIG. 2 presents a cross-section, as taken through plane 2-2 of FIG. 1, that shows the general values of recovery of energy available at the inlet 55 in a plane just forward of the rotor 35 as ca...

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Abstract

Presented is a fluid propulsor for propelling a vehicle that incorporates a Coanda Effect Inducer (CEI), more commonly called an inlet fluid inducer in this application, in its inlet to induce fluids passing by the vehicle to turn uniformly toward a powered fluid energizing device such as a rotor of the propulsor. This concept enhances the efficiency of the rotor and the overall efficiency of the propulsor. The rotor is at least primarily enclosed in a housing and the rotor may operate either fully submerged in liquid or in a partially liquid and partially gaseous environment. Fluid flow directing devices may be incorporated to separate liquid from gas flowing to the rotor in some instances. The inlet fluid inducer may take the shape of a cylinder or any other flow directing shape and while more effective when rotating in the direction of fluid flow is also viable when not rotating.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] Enclosed rotor propulsion system for marine craft, such as waterjets and Applicant's enclosed ventilated rotor Hydro Air Drive® (HAD) invention, are limited in the overall efficiency they can realize by the efficiency of recovery by their water inlets of the fluid available at their water inlets. As an example, waterjets can have very high efficiency rotors, stator vanes that straighten the discharge flow of the rotors, and discharge nozzles. The overall efficiency of the just mentioned three items are in the 90% area for a well designed high power level waterjet. [0002] However, the overall efficiency of a waterjet is severely limited by its inlet's ability to recovery oncoming fluids efficiently. This is because the oncoming fluid flow is forced to turn into the duct that surrounds the waterjet's rotor. As an example, a waterjet's inlet may see efficiencies of fluid recovery of 92% over its lower half but only 54% or so over its upper half. This ...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): B63H11/00
CPCB63B1/32B63B1/36Y02T70/121B63H2001/185Y02T70/12B63H11/08Y02T70/10
InventorBURG, DONALD E.
OwnerBURG PAULETTE RENEE