Lift generation systems and ships equipped with such systems

Abstract

The present invention relates to a lift generating system (101) comprising an airfoil (1) having at least one suction opening (12) designed to establish a connection between the exterior of the airfoil and the interior (102) of the airfoil (1), and a suction device. The lift generating system (101) comprises a support (4) on which the airfoil (1) is mounted so that it can pivot about an axis substantially parallel to an axis (A1). The suction device comprises a fan (3) located on the exterior of the airfoil (1) and fluidly connected to the interior (102) of the airfoil (1), sucking air through said at least one suction opening (12) of the airfoil and discharging the sucked air through an outlet of the fan (3). The fan (3) comprises an impeller (30) surrounded by a shroud (31) defining a duct surrounding the impeller and serving to guide the air discharged by the impeller, and a motor for rotating the impeller (30) about an axis substantially parallel to the axis (A1) of the blades, the shroud (31) of the fan (3) having an outlet (32) with an axis (A32) substantially perpendicular to the axis (A30) of the fan impeller (30). The invention also relates to a corresponding vessel.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention generally relates to a system or a lift generator intended to be disposed in flowing air to generate lift. In the case of wind-propelled moving bodies, such systems are also known as wind motors. BACKGROUND ART

[0002] A wind motor including an elongated hollow body, a suction region formed along the peripheral wall of the hollow body, and a suction means housed inside the hollow body is known from the prior art, particularly from Patent Document 1. Suction at the peripheral wall of the motor can limit flow separation of the air flow from the wall of the motor.

[0003] Thus, Patent Document 1 describes a sail including a main body that houses several fans. PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS PATENT DOCUMENTS

[0004] PATENT DOCUMENT 1 French Additional Patent Publication No. 2503286 Specification SUMMARY OF INVENTION PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0005] However, it is desirable to be able to improve the performance of such motors. MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS

[0006] For this purpose, one subject of the present invention is a lift generation system intended to be disposed in flowing air to generate lift, - a hollow body, referred to as a sail, which is elongated along an axis, the peripheral wall of the sail having at least one opening, referred to as a suction opening, designed to place the outside of the sail in communication with the inside of the sail, - A suction device that allows air to be drawn in through at least one of the suction openings. In a lift generation system comprising, The lift generation system comprises a support for the sail, the sail being mounted such that it is rotatable with respect to the support with respect to an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the sail, The suction device comprises a fan located on the outside of the sail, communicating with the inside of the sail, drawing in air through at least one suction opening of the sail, and discharging the drawn-in air through the outlet of the fan. The fan comprises an impeller surrounded by a housing that surrounds the impeller and defines a duct through which the air discharged by the impeller can be guided, and a motor for rotating the impeller with respect to an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the sail, the fan housing having an outlet on an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the fan impeller. This is a lift generation system characterized by the following:

[0007] Positioning the suction device outside the sail (also known as a hollow body or airfoil profile) means that, as far as the selection of the suction device is concerned, the installation area of ​​the suction device is not constrained by the internal dimensions of the sail, unlike prior art solutions in which the suction device is housed inside the sail. Therefore, it becomes possible to select a fan that maximizes efficiency by choosing a combination of diameter and rotational speed that is particularly effective and can provide suction flow throughout the entire sail.

[0008] The primary function of the fan is to ventilate the sail. Preferably, the fan is located as close as possible to the lower end of the sail.

[0009] Therefore, the system according to the present invention makes it possible to obtain the desired propulsion performance from the lift generation system without the need to increase the cross-sectional area of ​​the sail, by using a centrifugal fan or a mixed-flow fan.

[0010] To achieve the same efficiency and obtain the operating point of the lift generation system with suction means located inside the sail, the suction means would need to be divided into several modules distributed along the sail, which increases the complexity of the system and the manufacturing and maintenance costs.

[0011] The centrifugal fan may be positioned at the base of the sail.

[0012] When the system according to the present invention is mounted on the deck of a ship, the fan housing is fixed to the ship's deck. In this way, by directing the air outlet of the corresponding fan toward the stern of the ship along the ship's longitudinal axis, it becomes possible to discharge air parallel to the ship's longitudinal axis. Thus, the discharged air contributes to the propulsion force through a jet effect.

[0013] In prior art solutions known from which the suction means is positioned inside the sail, the direction in which the air is discharged depends on the orientation of the motor, so the discharged air does not necessarily contribute to the force that propels the ship along the ship's axis.

[0014] By mounting the sail in a manner that allows it to rotate relative to a support intended to be fixed to the deck of a ship, the sail can preferably rotate with respect to its vertical axis, thereby orienting itself toward the apparent wind direction.

[0015] Advantageously, an orifice located on the underside of the sail allows for direct communication between the fan and the inside of the sail. This configuration reduces the pressure drop that occurs in the intermediate duct. According to one particular embodiment, a duct shorter than the diameter of the fan—for example, a duct several tens of centimeters long when the fan diameter is about 2 meters—may be positioned between the sail and the fan.

[0016] The fan accounts for a non-negligible mass of the system. The fact that this fan is arranged at the base of the sail provides many advantages.

[0017] The built-in mass is subject to the acceleration of the vessel. The fact that the fan is arranged outside the sail and at its root means that the forces applied to the sail are significantly reduced. Specifically, there are two types of forces here that combine with the acceleration of the vessel. One is an inertial force directly related to the mass of the centrifugal fan, and the other is a gyroscopic force resulting from the rotation of the fan. This reduces the weight of the system structure and cuts manufacturing costs.

[0018] Arranging the fan at the root of the sail facilitates access and simplifies maintenance operations.

[0019] According to a specific aspect, the suction device, when mounted on the deck of the vessel, is located under the sail and between the deck of the vessel and the sail.

[0020] It should be noted that in French Additional Patent Publication No. 2503286, each fan is located inside the sail, not outside the sail.

[0021] According to the present invention, it is understood that even if the sail rotates about the axis of the sail, the fan does not rotate or change its orientation.

[0022] The generation system may also comprise one or more of the following features, which are considered in any technically permissible combination.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the system comprises a hollow connection element extending at least partially between the lower end of the sail and the fan, the hollow connection element enabling fluid communication between the sail and the fan.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the connection element comprises a conformally shaped wall formed with an opening that communicates with the fan.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the conformable wall comprises an annular element extending around the opening of the conformable wall and on the inner surface of the sail, and the cross section of said annular element has a curved, for example convex profile, which limits the pressure drop experienced by the air flow between the sail and the fan.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the fan is housed within a virtual housing surrounding the support. In other words, the fan is contained within the overall footprint of the support.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the fan is a centrifugal fan.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the fan is a mixed flow fan.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the sail comprises a device for generating vertical lift, which device is mounted in the vicinity of one end and / or the other end of the sail.

[0030] According to one embodiment, the device for generating vertical lift comprises at least a member mounted so as to be movable about an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the sail.

[0031] According to one embodiment, the device for generating vertical lift comprises a suction system that allows air to be drawn from the outside into the interior of the sail.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the peripheral wall of the sail comprises a flap that can move relative to the peripheral wall and is capable of separating the air flow on the suction side from the air flow on the pressure side.

[0033] According to one embodiment, the length of the flap is equal to the length of the sail.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the peripheral wall of the sail has two suction openings and a shielding system such as a flap that selectively shields one of the suction openings, allowing the other suction opening to be exposed.

[0035] According to one embodiment, the fan housing is extended by a variable cross-section exhaust duct, the cross-section of which preferably decreases toward the outlet end of the exhaust duct.

[0036] According to one embodiment, the system includes a tilting system that allows the sail and, optionally, the sail support to be tilted with respect to an axis substantially perpendicular to the sail axis, preferably a substantially horizontal axis.

[0037] The present invention also relates to a ship comprising at least one lift-generating system according to any one of the embodiments described above, wherein the fan is located between the sail and the deck of the ship, and the sail is mounted so as to be rotatable with respect to the deck of the ship with respect to an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the sail.

[0038] In one particular embodiment, the support is positioned such that when the sail is upright (i.e., perpendicular to the ship's deck) and rotates with respect to an axis substantially parallel to the sail's axis (i.e., when the sail is vertical during its movement and there is no possibility of the support tilting with respect to an axis perpendicular to the sail's axis), the support remains fixed to the ship's deck.

[0039] In one particular embodiment, the fan is positioned such that the fan housing remains fixed to the ship's deck when the sail is upright and rotates with respect to an axis substantially parallel to the sail's axis.

[0040] According to one embodiment, the axis of the outlet of the fan housing is directed toward the stern of the ship and is preferably substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ship. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0041] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, which is merely illustrative and non-limiting, and should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of a ship equipped with several lift generation systems according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a detailed view of II in Figure 1. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view of a lift generation system according to one embodiment of the present invention, showing how a portion of the incoming airflow is drawn into the sail by a fan and then discharged. [Figure 3A] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the lift generation system, in which the sails are oriented at different angles relative to the support. [Figure 4] Figure 3 is a top view of the lift generation system. [Figure 5] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view AA of the lower portion of the lift generation system. [Figure 5A] This is a schematic diagram of the lower part of the lift generation system, intended to make the configuration of the elements in the lower part of the lift generation system easier to see. [Figure 6] Figure 4 is an exploded view of the lower part of the lift generation system. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0042] The concept of the present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating embodiments of the concept of the present invention. In the drawings, the size of elements and the relative sizes of elements may be exaggerated for clarity. Similar reference numerals refer to similar elements throughout the drawings. However, this concept of the present invention may be carried out in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments described herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to complete this description and to convey the scope of the concept of the present invention to those skilled in the art.

[0043] Throughout this specification, any reference to “embodiments” means that any function, structure, or particular feature described in relation to an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, where the phrase “in one embodiment” appears in various places throughout the specification, it does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, functions, structures, or particular features may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

[0044] Referring to Figure 1, a number of lift-generating systems 101 are shown attached to the deck 111 of a ship 100.

[0045] The following explanation is given for one lift generation system 101, but it can also be applied to several lift generation systems 101.

[0046] As shown in Figure 2, the lift generation system 101 is positioned within the flowing airflow FI, thereby enabling it to generate lift. As will be detailed below, this lift generation system 101 provides superior propulsion performance without increasing the dimensions of the sail.

[0047] Sail The lift generation system comprises an elongated hollow body 1 along axis A1. The hollow body is generally called a sail.

[0048] The sail has an aerodynamic profile. Various different profile shapes may be used. In the illustrated example, the profile is oval-shaped.

[0049] The peripheral wall 10 of the sail has at least one opening 12 called a suction opening that can communicate with the inside 102 of the sail 1. In the illustrated example, the peripheral wall 10 preferably has two suction openings 12 distributed symmetrically around the axis of symmetry of the sail profile.

[0050] The hollow body is provided with movable flaps 14. The flaps can change the curvature of the sail profile and increase lift, regardless of whether the wind is blowing from one side or the other of the vessel. The vessel can sail on either a port tack or a starboard tack. According to one embodiment, the movement of the flaps can shield one suction opening 12 and expose the other suction opening 12.

[0051] In one particular embodiment, as more specifically shown in Figures 5 and 5A, the lower end of the sail 1 includes a hollow connecting element 13 that extends at least partially between the lower end of the sail 1 and the fan 3, providing fluid communication between the sail 1 and the fan 3. The connecting element 13 includes a shape-adjusting wall having an opening that allows the passage cross-section for the airflow inside the hollow body to fit into the opening 301 of the impeller 30 (or rotor) of the centrifugal fan 3, as described below. The impeller may be a bladed impeller. The fan may also be of a mixed-flow type, as described below. When referring to a mixed-flow fan or a centrifugal fan, particularly when determining the overall footprint of the fan, it should be noted that this refers to both the fan impeller and the housing.

[0052] suction device The lift generation system includes a suction device that communicates with the inside 102 of the sail 1, and air is drawn in through the at least one opening 12 formed in the peripheral wall of the sail.

[0053] Each suction opening 12 has an opening size or porosity that can vary along the sail, allowing the amount of air drawn in to change, for example, depending on its position along the sail. Each opening 12 may be formed in the form of a grid.

[0054] As shown more specifically in Figures 4 to 6, the suction device is formed by a fan 3 comprising an impeller 30, a motor (not shown) for rotating the impeller 30, and a housing 31 (a fixed portion around the impeller) extending around the impeller 30. The housing 31 (also called a spiral housing or shroud) surrounds the impeller and preferably takes the form of a body defining a spiral duct, through which the air discharged by the impeller is guided to an outlet 32. The geometric shape of the housing 31 can improve the suction efficiency of the fan.

[0055] Fan 3 is configured to discharge the inhaled airflow into the free atmosphere. Fan 3 has an air inlet with axis A30 substantially perpendicular to the axis of the outlet 32 ​​of the housing 31 of fan 3. In other words, the direction in which air is drawn in is substantially perpendicular to the direction in which air exits the housing 31 of fan 3. The axis A30 of the air inlet is preferably perpendicular to the axis of the outlet 32, but it is understood that there may be a small angle of inclination of 1° or a few degrees, e.g., less than 5°, between the outlet axis A30 of the outlet 32 ​​of the housing 31 and the plane perpendicular to axis A30. The outlet 32 ​​of the housing 31 may preferably include an exhaust duct configured to accelerate the exhausted air.

[0056] In the illustrated example, the fan is a centrifugal fan. According to the illustrated embodiment, the impeller 30 is a bladed impeller 30. The bladed impeller 30 has an air inlet 301 that communicates with the inside 102 of the sail. In particular, the air inlet 301 communicates with the inside 102 of the sail through an opening in an orientation mechanism such as an orientation ring 2 (described below) and an opening in a connecting element 13. Alternatively, the fan may be of the mixed-flow type. Unlike centrifugal fans, in a mixed-flow fan, the air exiting the impeller enters the housing at an angle of 30° to 80° with respect to the axis of the air inlet. In a centrifugal fan, the air exiting the impeller enters the housing at a direction perpendicular to the axis of the air inlet.

[0057] In the lift generation system 101 according to the present invention, it should be noted that whether the fan is centrifugal or diagonal flow type, the air exiting from the outlet 32 ​​of the housing 31 actually exits perpendicular to the suction axis.

[0058] The centrifugal fan 3 is located on the outside of the sail 1 and is in fluid communication with the inside 102 of the sail 1. Air is drawn in through each of the openings 12 formed in the peripheral wall 10 of the sail 1, and the drawn-in air is discharged through the outlet 32 ​​of the housing 31 of the centrifugal fan 3. The discharged airflow FE contributes to the propulsion of the ship 100, on which the lift generation system 101 is installed.

[0059] The outlet 32 ​​of the centrifugal fan 3 is directed toward the stern of the ship. Advantageously, the housing of the fan 3 is fixed to the support 4 and thus to the ship's deck, and as a result, the outlet 32 ​​is also fixed.

[0060] The opening in the shape-fitting wall is defined by a circumferential element 130 extending to the inner surface of the sail, the cross-section of which, when viewed from the inside of the hollow body, has a curved, preferably convex (bulging) shape. In the illustrated example, this element 130 has an annular overall shape. Thus, the shape-fitting wall provides a guide for the inhaled airflow, thereby limiting the pressure drop experienced by the inhaled airflow as it circulates between the inside of the hollow body and the centrifugal fan 3.

[0061] support System 101 comprises a support 4 to which the sail 1 is rotatably mounted (Figures 3 and 3A). Preferably, the sail is mounted to rotate relative to the support 4 with respect to an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis A1 of the sail. The rotation axis is preferably parallel to the longitudinal axis A1 of the sail, but it is understood that the rotation axis may make a small angle of 1° or a few degrees with respect to axis A1, for example, an angle of less than 5°. Axis A1 preferably coincides with the rotation axis of the sail.

[0062] Therefore, when the system 101 is attached to the deck 111 of the ship 100, the sail 1 can rotate with respect to its (vertical) longitudinal axis and orient itself with respect to the apparent wind direction.

[0063] In a configuration of the system in which sail 1 is erected on the deck of a ship via support 4 of sail 1, the support 4 is fixed to the deck. In the illustrated example, the support takes the form of a collection of several leg pieces. The support may be covered with a cowling or fairing.

[0064] The system includes an orientation mechanism, such as an orientation ring 2, interposed between the sail 1 (preferably the lower surface 103 of the sail) and the support 4, configured to allow the sail 1 to rotate relative to the support 4 with respect to a rotation axis of the sail 1 that is substantially parallel to axis A1. In the illustrated example, the orientation mechanism includes a central opening positioned facing the air inlet opening 301 of the centrifugal fan 3, i.e., the air inlet opening of the bladed impeller 30.

[0065] In the illustrated example, the centrifugal fan 3 is housed within a virtual housing surrounding the support 4. In other words, the fan 3 is located within the overall footprint of the support 4, thereby limiting the footprint of the system 101 on the ship's deck.

[0066] In embodiments not shown, the sail includes a vertical lift generating device attached to one end and / or near the other end of the sail. Preferably, the vertical lift generating device includes a flat or irregularly shaped surface for generating vertical lift. The vertical lift generating device may include at least a member mounted to be movable with respect to an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the sail, and at least the member of the vertical lift generating device may be tilted relative to the sail.

[0067] System 101 may include a tilting mechanism that allows the sail and, optionally, the sail support to be tilted with respect to a horizontal axis.

[0068] The inclined system allows the sail and, optionally, the sail support to move between an upright position in which the sail stands perpendicular to the ship's deck when the system is attached to the ship's deck, and an inclined position in which the sail extends substantially parallel to the ship's deck when the system is attached to the ship's deck.

[0069] When the sail is upright and rotates with respect to an axis substantially parallel to the sail's axis, that is, when the sail is vertical during its movement and there is no possibility of the support being tilted with respect to an axis horizontal to the sail's axis, the support remains fixed to the ship's deck. Similarly, when the sail is upright and rotates with respect to an axis substantially parallel to the sail's axis, the fan is positioned such that the fan housing remains fixed to the ship's deck.

[0070] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the drawings.

[0071] In addition, terms such as “equipped with” or “possess” do not preclude the inclusion of other elements or other steps. Furthermore, features or steps described with reference to one of the embodiments described above may be employed in combination with other features or steps of the other embodiments described above.

Claims

1. A lift generating system (101) is positioned in flowing air (FI) and intended to generate lift, - A hollow body called a sail (1), which is elongated along an axis (A1), wherein the peripheral wall (10) of the sail has at least one suction opening (12) designed to connect the outside of the sail to the inside (102) of the sail (1), - A suction device that enables air to be drawn in through at least one of the suction openings (12) and In a lift generation system (101) equipped with, The lift generation system (101) comprises a support (4) that supports the sail, and the sail (1) is mounted to the support (4) such that it can rotate with respect to an axis parallel to the axis (A1) of the sail, and the support (4) is provided. The suction device comprises a fan (3) located on the outside of the sail (1), communicating with the inside (102) of the sail (1), drawing in air through the at least one suction opening (12) of the sail, and discharging the drawn-in air through the outlet of the fan (3), The fan (3) comprises an impeller (30) surrounded by a housing (31) that surrounds the impeller and defines a duct that can guide the air discharged by the impeller, and a motor for rotating the impeller (30) with respect to an axis parallel to the axis (A1) of the sail, and the housing (31) of the fan (3) has an outlet (32) on an axis (A32) perpendicular to the axis (A30) of the impeller (30) of the fan, The housing (31) of the fan (3) is extended by a variable cross-section discharge duct, the cross-section of which decreases toward the outlet end of the discharge duct. A lift generation system (101) characterized by the following features.

2. The system (101) according to claim 1, comprising a hollow connecting element (13) that extends at least partially between the lower end of the sail (1) and the fan (3), the hollow connecting element (13) enabling fluid communication between the sail (1) and the fan (3).

3. The system (101) according to claim 2, wherein the connecting element (13) comprises a shape-adjustable wall having an opening that communicates with the fan (3).

4. The system (101) according to claim 3, wherein the shape-adjustable wall comprises an annular element (130) extending around the opening of the shape-adjustable wall and the inner surface of the sail (1), the cross-section of the annular element (130) having a curved, for example, convex profile, thereby limiting the pressure drop experienced by the airflow between the sail (1) and the fan (3).

5. The lift generation system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the fan (3) is housed in a virtual housing surrounding the support (4).

6. The system (101) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the fan (3) is a centrifugal fan.

7. The system (101) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the fan (3) is a mixed-flow fan.

8. The system (101) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the sail (1) is equipped with a device for generating vertical lift, and the device is attached near one end and / or the other end of the sail.

9. The system (101) according to claim 8, wherein the device for generating vertical lift comprises at least a member mounted so as to be movable with respect to an axis perpendicular to the axis (A1) of the sail.

10. The system (101) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the device for generating vertical lift comprises a suction system that enables drawing air from the outside into the inside of the sail.

11. The system (101) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the peripheral wall (10) of the sail (1) is a flap (14) that can move relative to the peripheral wall (10) and is capable of separating the airflow on the negative pressure surface from the airflow on the positive pressure surface.

12. The system (101) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the peripheral wall (10) of the sail (1) has two suction openings (12) and a flap (14) as a shielding system, and allows for selective shielding of one of the suction openings (12) and exposure of the other suction opening (12).

13. The system (101) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, comprising a tilting system that enables the sail and, optionally, the support of the sail to be tilted with respect to a horizontal axis which is perpendicular to the axis (A1) of the sail.

14. A vessel (100) comprising at least one lift generating system (101) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the fan (3) is located between the sail (1) and the deck (111) of the vessel, and the sail (1) is mounted so as to be rotatable with respect to the deck of the vessel with respect to an axis parallel to the axis (A1) of the sail.

15. The ship (100) according to claim 14, wherein the support is positioned such that the support (4) remains fixed to the deck of the ship when the sail is upright and rotates with respect to an axis parallel to the axis (A1) of the sail.

16. The ship (100) according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the fan (3) is positioned such that the housing (31) of the fan (3) remains fixed to the deck of the ship when the sail is upright and rotates with respect to an axis parallel to the axis (A1) of the sail.

17. The ship (100) according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the axis (A32) of the outlet (32) of the housing (31) of the fan (3) is directed toward the stern of the ship and is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ship.

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