Aircraft Flow Body Ram Air Boundary Layer Suction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft boundary layer suction systems are heavy and energy-intensive, increasing air resistance and fuel consumption due to the use of pump/compressor units, which are inefficient and require additional weight and energy expenditure.
Innovation Solution
A flow body with micro-perforations and a suction device driven by ram air, utilizing a ram fluid feed line and suction jet pump to linearize the boundary layer, reducing air resistance and emissions by eliminating the need for electric energy and weight from pump/compressor units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If pump/compressor units are used for boundary layer extraction, then fluid can be extracted from the flow body, but weight and energy consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The suction device is designed to be self-driven by utilizing the ram air flow that naturally impinges on the flow body. The system extracts boundary layer fluid using the kinetic energy already present in the incoming air stream, eliminating the need for external pump or compressor units. This self-service approach resolves the contradiction by maintaining fluid extraction capability while eliminating the weight penalty of mechanical extraction systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs a suction device that operates on pneumatic principles, using pressure differentials created by the impinging ram air flow to drive fluid extraction. The suction device utilizes the kinetic energy of the incoming air stream to create a pressure gradient that draws boundary layer fluid through the micro-perforations and into the suction chamber, replacing mechanical pneumatic systems with a purely aerodynamic solution.
2Productivity
If pump/compressor units are used for boundary layer extraction, then fluid can be extracted from the flow body, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The suction device is designed to be self-driven by utilizing the ram air flow that naturally impinges on the flow body. The system extracts boundary layer fluid using the kinetic energy already present in the incoming air stream, eliminating the need for external pump or compressor units. This self-service approach resolves the contradiction by maintaining fluid extraction capability while eliminating the energy consumption penalty of mechanical extraction systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs a suction device that operates on pneumatic principles, using pressure differentials created by the impinging ram air flow to drive fluid extraction. The suction device utilizes the kinetic energy of the incoming air stream to create a pressure gradient that draws boundary layer fluid through the micro-perforations and into the suction chamber, replacing mechanical pneumatic systems with a purely aerodynamic solution.
3Productivity
If conventional suction systems are used, then boundary layer flow can be controlled, but device complexity increases due to pump/compressor units and conduit systems
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the complex mechanical components (pump, compressor, motor, conduit system) from the conventional suction system. By removing these unnecessary elements and retaining only the essential suction chamber with micro-perforations that passively utilize ram air flow, the system achieves boundary layer control with minimal device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs a suction device that operates on pneumatic principles, using pressure differentials created by the impinging ram air flow to drive fluid extraction. The suction device utilizes the kinetic energy of the incoming air stream to create a pressure gradient that draws boundary layer fluid through the micro-perforations and into the suction chamber, replacing mechanical pneumatic systems with a purely aerodynamic solution.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution significantly reduces fuel consumption and emissions while minimizing weight and energy demand, allowing for self-adjustment to different flight states and ensuring secure operation by using ram air for power, thus improving aircraft efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The suction device is realized such that in predetermined flight ranges or flight states of the aircraft it is driven by fluid flowing into it through the ram fluid feed line, in such a way that this fluid is drawn off from the vicinity of the flow body through the micro-perforations
Implementation Method 2
The suction device is operated by the air from regions on the aircraft where ram air is present, or from regions close to these or where a sufficient pressure prevails, so that the suction device is supplied with pressurized air or ram air having a sufficient pressure and/or throughput
Implementation Method 3
owing to the component-specific linearization of the boundary layer a considerable reduction of the fuel consumption and of the polluting emissions of the commercial aircraft is achieved
Implementation Method 4
In order to reduce the air resistance, transition controls were proposed in the prior art whereby a component-specific preservation of the laminar boundary layer flow may be achieved with the aid of boundary layer suction
Data Source
AI summary
A flow body is disclosed, particularly for aircraft. The flow body includes an outer side impinged on in a predetermined manner by a fluid in a direction of impinging flow, the flow body having on its outer side at least one flow control device including micro-perforations arranged in at least one segment of the outer side, at least one connecting passage communicated with the micro-perforations via at least one suction chamber so fluid flowing through the micro-perforations flows via the suction chamber into the connecting passage, at least one suction device having a first inlet communicated with the connecting passage, a second inlet communicated with at least one ram fluid feed line, wherein the ram fluid feed line is in a region of the flow body opposite to the direction of impinging flow of the flow body, and an outlet device for discharging the fluid.