Duct Vortex Generator Surface for Wake and Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft and watercraft components interacting with fluid flows create turbulent wakes and noise, which can increase fuel consumption and disturb the environment, necessitating techniques to reduce wake magnitude and noise levels.
Innovation Solution
A duct arrangement with a vortex generator surface is introduced to induce vortices in fluid flows, reducing wake magnitude and improving rotor efficiency, comprising a first duct section and a second duct section with a vortex generator surface that can be integrated or retrofitted, positioned optimally to interact with the fluid flow, and configured to induce vortices that enhance propulsion and reduce wake.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If duct sections are used to guide fluid flows and house components, then fluid flow guidance and component housing are improved, but wake magnitude increases and noise is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies a vortex generator surface at a specific location on the duct section (at the leading edge or upstream portion) to create localized vortices. This local modification improves the overall fluid flow guidance while the generated vortices actively reduce the wake magnitude downstream, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reduction of harmful factors.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the harmful wake generated by duct sections into a beneficial effect by using vortex generators to create controlled vortices. These vortices mix the fluid flow in a way that reduces the magnitude of the wake downstream, thus transforming the harmful wake into a benefit for reducing environmental disturbance and improving propulsion efficiency.
2Power
If craft components interact with fluid flows to produce thrust or lift, then propulsion performance is improved, but wake and noise are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The vortex generator surface is applied locally at the leading edge of the duct section to create controlled vortices in the fluid flow. This localized intervention improves the overall interaction between craft components and fluid flows, enhancing thrust production while simultaneously reducing wake and noise through the vortex-induced flow mixing.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the harmful wake and noise generated by thrust-producing components into a beneficial effect. The vortex generators create controlled vortices that mix the fluid flow, reducing the magnitude of the wake downstream and thereby reducing noise and environmental disturbance while maintaining or improving thrust production.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If vortex generator surface is added to duct section, then wake magnitude is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vortex generator surface is applied as a localized feature on the duct section rather than modifying the entire structure. This local application reduces wake magnitude effectively while minimizing the increase in device complexity, as only a specific portion of the duct requires the vortex generator modification.
Solution Approach 2:
The vortex generator surface is integrated with the duct section structure, merging two functional elements (duct for flow guidance and vortex generator for wake reduction) into a single combined component. This integration reduces the overall device complexity by eliminating separate components and simplifying the structure while maintaining the wake reduction benefit.
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 duct arrangement effectively reduces vorticity magnitude of the wake, improves rotor efficiency, and minimizes noise, leading to enhanced propulsion performance and reduced environmental disturbance.
Implementation Method 1
the vortex generator surface is arranged to induce vortices in the fluid flow through the first duct section
Implementation Method 2
the vorticity magnitude of the wake is reduced
Data Source
AI summary
An arrangement for influencing a liquid flow includes a first section selectively configurable to provide a vortex generator surface, the vortex generator surface comprising a series of laterally aligned projections, to induce vortices in the liquid flow.