Fluid Transfer Arrangement Using Ring Vortex Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid transfer arrangements for impingement heating or cooling in gas turbine engines are inefficient, costly, and weight-intensive, with ducting requirements that can be challenging in tight spaces and sensitive to spacing tolerances, leading to reduced engine efficiency and increased manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A fluid transfer arrangement utilizing a duct with a pulse generation mechanism and a baffle at the end to create a ring vortex fluid flow, which is more coherent and travels further than direct jets, reducing energy loss and improving efficiency across gaps, with options for tubular, frustoconical ducts, and various baffle shapes to optimize fluid transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If ducting is used to transfer fluid from source to impingement point, then fluid transfer is achieved, but weight and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the ducting component entirely from the fluid transfer system. By using a pulse generation mechanism that creates coherent fluid structures (such as vortex rings) directly at the fluid source, the system transfers fluid through the surrounding medium without requiring physical ducts, thereby removing the weight and cost burden of ducting while maintaining effective fluid delivery to the target location
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces coherent fluid structures (vortex rings, jets) as intermediary carriers to transport fluid momentum and mass over distance. These coherent structures act as mediators that efficiently transfer fluid properties through the surrounding medium without requiring solid conduit infrastructure, achieving effective fluid transfer while eliminating ducting weight
2Quantity of substance
If large diameter ducting is used to transfer sufficient fluid volume, then fluid transfer capacity is adequate, but space constraints are violated
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the fluid transfer process into discrete coherent structures (vortex rings or jet pulses) rather than requiring continuous large-diameter ducting. Each coherent structure carries a concentrated packet of fluid, allowing sufficient fluid volume to be delivered through multiple smaller, temporally-separated pulses instead of requiring a large cross-sectional area duct
Solution Approach 2:
The pulse generation mechanism creates periodic coherent fluid structures that sequentially deliver fluid to the target. This periodic action allows the system to transfer sufficient total fluid volume over time using small instantaneous cross-sections, eliminating the need for large-diameter continuous ducting while meeting overall fluid delivery requirements
3Ease of operation
If traditional aperture arrangements are used for impingement, then fluid delivery is achieved, but spacing tolerances must be very small increasing manufacturing cost
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses dynamically generated coherent fluid structures (vortex rings, jets) whose formation and propagation characteristics are inherently more robust to spacing variations than static aperture jets. The coherent structures maintain their integrity and impingement effectiveness over a wider range of distances, reducing sensitivity to manufacturing tolerances and differential expansion
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the fundamental parameter of fluid delivery from continuous static jet through fixed aperture to pulsed coherent structure through sharp-edged aperture. This parameter change transforms the fluid delivery mechanism to be less sensitive to spacing variations, as the coherent structures naturally maintain their form and impingement capability across broader distance ranges, reducing manufacturing precision requirements
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 ring vortex fluid flow enhances fluid transfer efficiency and effectiveness, reducing energy loss and increasing the distance fluid can travel while maintaining impingement force, thus improving heating or cooling efficiency and reducing system weight and cost.
Implementation Method 1
the sharp edges generate ring vortex fluid flow form the aperture in use
Implementation Method 2
the ring vortex fluid flow is coherent and travels further than prior art arrangements
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid transfer arrangement comprising a duct having a first end and a second end, a pulse generation mechanism located at the first end of the duct to direct fluid pulses towards the second end of the duct in use, and a baffle located at the second end of the duct that defines an aperture having sharp edges. The sharp edges generate ring vortex fluid flow from the aperture in use. Applications include impingement heating and cooling.