Fluid Accelerator With Converging Nozzle for Passive Flow Acceleration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid systems, such as wind turbines and jet engines, are limited in efficiency and effectiveness due to the need for additional power to accelerate fluid streams, which reduces the efficiency of energy extraction or consumption.
Innovation Solution
A passive fluid accelerator system utilizing an airfoil-shaped annular ring and bi-directional turbine wheel, which includes a converging nozzle and a turbine wheel with compressor blades, to enhance fluid stream acceleration without requiring additional power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a passive fluid accelerator is introduced to accelerate the fluid stream at the inlet side, then the efficiency and effectiveness of energy producing systems is greatly increased, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the fluid accelerator components (converging nozzle and airfoil-shaped annular ring) with the turbine wheel assembly into a single integrated unit. The converging nozzle is formed as part of the housing structure, and the annular ring is positioned within the same housing, creating a unified device that accelerates fluid while maintaining structural compactness and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid accelerator design serves multiple functions within a single device: the converging nozzle both guides fluid flow and accelerates it, the airfoil-shaped annular ring simultaneously acts as a flow guide and acceleration element, and the integrated turbine wheel combines extraction function with the acceleration mechanism. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components.
2Speed
If power is required to introduce energy to the fluid stream to accelerate it, then the fluid stream speed increases, but the efficiency is greatly reduced for energy extracting systems
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs preliminary acceleration of the fluid stream using the converging nozzle and airfoil-shaped annular ring before the fluid enters the turbine wheel. This preliminary action increases the kinetic energy of the fluid without requiring external power input, as the acceleration is achieved through the geometric design of the nozzle and ring structures that convert pressure energy to kinetic energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid accelerator is designed to be self-accelerating through its geometric structures. The converging nozzle and airfoil-shaped annular ring create pressure differential and flow acceleration automatically as fluid passes through them, without requiring external power input. The system uses the fluid's own pressure energy to drive the acceleration process.
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 system significantly increases the efficiency and effectiveness of energy-producing systems like ram air turbines and jet engines by enhancing fluid stream acceleration, thereby improving output and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an outer housing having an inlet end and an outlet end, the outer housing defining a converging nozzle proximate the inlet end
Implementation Method 2
an annular ring disposed proximate the inlet end of the outer housing within the converging nozzle, wherein the annular ring has an airfoil cross-sectional shape
Implementation Method 3
a bi-directional turbine wheel... a plurality of turbine blades extending between the intermediate ring and the outer ring, the turbine blades being oriented to be driven by a fluid stream flowing through the turbine wheel to rotate the turbine wheel
Implementation Method 4
a plurality of compressor blades extending between the inner hub and the intermediate ring, the compressor blades being oriented to propel a fluid in a downstream direction when the turbine wheel is rotated
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid accelerator including an outer housing having an inlet end and an outlet end, the outer housing defining a converging nozzle proximate the inlet end. The fluid accelerator may also include an annular ring disposed proximate the inlet end of the outer housing within the converging nozzle, wherein the annular ring has an airfoil cross-sectional shape.