Cold Plasma Drag Reduction via UV Light Pipes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems for generating air plasma to mitigate supersonic vehicle effects at high speeds create heated plasma, interfere with antenna operations, and are difficult to control, leading to undesired heating and aerodynamic issues.

Innovation Solution

A supersonic vehicle equipped with ultraviolet energy sources and light pipes generates plasma around selected locations without heating the air, reducing shock effects and drag by creating cold plasma that modifies airflow viscosity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If electrical corona discharge or microwave RF discharge systems are used to generate air plasma, then plasma can be created to mitigate supersonic effects, but the plasma becomes heated causing undesired heating of the vehicle

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshock effectsVSAvoidplasma temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter of plasma generation from thermal processes (corona discharge, microwave RF) to a non-thermal process using ultraviolet light. This parameter change allows plasma creation without the associated heating, directly resolving the contradiction between achieving plasma effects and avoiding temperature increase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the electrical/mechanical plasma generation systems (corona discharge, microwave RF) with an optical system using ultraviolet light sources. This substitution eliminates the thermal mechanisms inherent in electrical discharge while achieving the desired plasma effect through photonic excitation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If electrical corona discharge or microwave RF discharge systems are used to generate air plasma, then plasma can be created to mitigate supersonic effects, but radio frequency signatures are created that may be detectable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshock effectsVSAvoidradio frequency signature

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces electrical discharge systems that inherently generate electromagnetic radiation with an optical system using ultraviolet light. This substitution eliminates the radio frequency signature problem while maintaining the plasma generation capability through a different physical mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If electrical corona discharge or microwave RF discharge systems are used to generate air plasma, then plasma can be created to mitigate supersonic effects, but controlling the plasma downstream becomes difficult and may interfere with antenna operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshock effectsVSAvoidplasma control

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses ultraviolet light as an intermediary to generate plasma in a controlled manner. The light acts as a mediator that can be precisely directed and controlled, allowing plasma generation at specific locations without the uncontrolled downstream effects associated with electrical discharge systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

The solution effectively reduces drag, prevents undesired heating, and minimizes interference with onboard systems by generating cold plasma that changes airflow viscosity, enhancing aerodynamic performance and operational stability at supersonic speeds.

Implementation Method 1

A plurality of ultraviolet energy sources may be coupled to an interior structure of the vehicle that travels at a speed that is greater than a critical Mach number for the vehicle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltraviolet radiation: Light

Implementation Method 2

The plurality of light pipes are coupled to the plurality of ultraviolet energy sources and transport ultraviolet energy from the plurality of ultraviolet energy sources past an exterior of the vehicle around a selected location of the vehicle to create a plasma around the selected location

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotoionisation: Photoionisation

Implementation Method 3

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical fiber transmission: Optical Fibre

Implementation Method 4

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPlasma: Plasma

Data Source

PatentEP3170745B1Mitigating shock using plasma

Publication Date: 2018.12.05 THE BOEING CO

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AI summary

A method, apparatus, and system for mitigating undesired effects of a vehicle traveling at a speed greater than a critical Mach number for the vehicle. Ultraviolet energy is generated using a plurality of ultraviolet energy sources associated with an interior structure of the vehicle that travels at the speed greater than the critical Mach number for the vehicle. The ultraviolet energy is transported from the plurality of ultraviolet energy sources past an exterior of the vehicle around a selected location of the vehicle. A plasma is created around the selected location to mitigate the undesired effects of the vehicle traveling at the speed greater than the critical Mach number for the vehicle.