Fluid Pressure Measurement Device Without Static Taps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for measuring skin friction and boundary layer pressure in aerospace applications, such as Stanton gauges, require static pressure taps which are often unavailable in flight conditions, limiting the ability to accurately measure fluid pressures and skin friction in real-time.
Innovation Solution
A pressure observation device comprising a planar cover layer, spacer layer, and measuring tube that creates a locally disturbed fluid pressure at a substrate surface, allowing for the measurement of fluid pressure without the need for static pressure taps by containing extant fluid within a cavity and transmitting the pressure through a cover aperture into a measuring tube for measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If Stanton gauges are used to measure skin friction, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to requirement of static pressure taps
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the static pressure tap component from the measurement system. By using a total pressure tap configuration that measures only total pressure and deriving static pressure through calculation, the patent removes the need for separate static pressure taps, thereby simplifying the device while maintaining measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical static pressure tap system with a computational approach. Instead of using a physical static pressure tap to directly measure static pressure, the system uses total pressure measurements combined with boundary layer theory calculations to determine static pressure and skin friction, substituting a mechanical measurement system with a hybrid measurement-calculation system
2Measurement precision
If static pressure taps are installed on substrate, then fluid pressure measurement is enabled, but ease of operation deteriorates due to limited availability in flight conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a universal measurement device that can operate in both ground-based wind tunnel conditions and flight conditions. The total pressure tap configuration and computational approach are universally applicable regardless of whether static pressure taps are available, making the device adaptable to multiple operational environments including flight conditions where substrate modification is limited
3Measurement precision
If boundary layer pressure is measured directly at substrate surface, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to requirement of direct surface access
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a computational model based on boundary layer theory as an intermediary between total pressure measurement and static pressure determination. This intermediary calculation layer allows derivation of boundary layer pressure characteristics from total pressure measurements without requiring direct substrate surface access or complex pressure tap configurations
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
Enables accurate measurement of fluid pressure and skin friction without the requirement for static pressure taps, facilitating real-time data collection and analysis of boundary layer behavior, even in flight conditions.
Implementation Method 1
variable fluid flowing in the local fluid flow direction exerts pressure upon the extant fluid to generate an extant fluid pressure level which is physically transmitted from the cavity through the cover aperture, into the tube lumen
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus for assisting with measurement of a fluid pressure includes a cover layer having a leading cover edge and upper and lower cover surfaces. A cover aperture fluidly connects the upper and lower cover surfaces. A spacer layer has oppositely facing upper and lower spacer surfaces. A cavity has an upper cavity surface, defined by the lower cover surface, which includes the leading cover edge and the cover aperture. A measuring tube is located adjacent to the upper cover surface. The measuring tube includes a tube lumen. When the lower spacer surface is connected to the substrate, the substrate defines a lower cavity surface and extant fluid is present within the cavity. Variable fluid flowing toward the cavity exerts pressure on the extant fluid to generate an extant fluid pressure level which is physically transmitted through the apparatus and made available for measurement as an extant fluid pressure level.