High-Tailed Wing Sail Vortex Harnessing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rigid wing sails, while more efficient than traditional fabric sails, add weight to vessels and do not fully harness the power potential of tip vortices generated during operation, limiting their efficiency in water-based transportation.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a high-tailed wing sail with a wing body and a wing tail positioned to harness additional power from the tip vortex, utilizing a coupling arm and control surface elements to optimize lift and reduce weight through dynamic balancing and adjustable positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a rigid wing sail is used instead of a traditional fabric sail, then aerodynamic efficiency is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wing sail is divided into two functional segments: a wing body for generating lift and a wing tail for harnessing tip vortex energy. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, with the wing tail being smaller and positioned closer to the wing body, reducing overall weight while maintaining aerodynamic efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes the third dimension by positioning the wing tail vertically above the wing body rather than horizontally behind it. This vertical positioning allows the wing tail to intercept the tip vortex generated at the wing tip, converting previously wasted rotational energy into additional propulsive force, thereby improving efficiency without increasing weight.
2Weight of moving object
If a traditional fabric sail is used, then weight is reduced, but aerodynamic efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The wing tail acts as an intermediary component that captures the tip vortex energy and converts it into useful propulsive force. This intermediary structure enables the rigid wing sail to harness previously wasted energy from the tip vortex, significantly improving aerodynamic efficiency while adding minimal weight compared to traditional fabric sails.
3Power
If the wing tail is positioned farther from the wing body, then it can better harness tip vortex power, but space requirements and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
By repositioning the wing tail from a horizontal arrangement behind the wing body to a vertical arrangement above it, the invention enables the wing tail to intercept the tip vortex at its source. This dimensional change allows effective vortex harnessing with minimal distance between components, reducing space requirements while maximizing power extraction from the tip vortex.
Solution Approach 2:
The wing tail is positioned locally at the optimal location directly above the wing body where the tip vortex is generated. This localized positioning allows the wing tail to efficiently capture the rotational energy of the tip vortex without requiring extensive space, as it operates precisely where the energy source is concentrated.
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
This configuration enhances the efficiency of the wing sail by leveraging the tip vortex for additional power, allowing for a smaller and closer wing tail, which reduces weight, space requirements, and increases safety while maintaining propulsion efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
When air flows around the wing body, air pressure is higher on one side than the other side
Implementation Method 2
The wing sail device includes one or more high-tailed wing sails. The high-tailed wing sail includes a wing body coupled with a wing tail that is positioned to harness additional power from a tip vortex generated at the tip of the wing body
Implementation Method 3
At the tip of the wing body, the tip vortex forms when the higher pressure airflow meets the lower pressure airflow, resulting in a directional vortex from the higher pressure side to the lower pressure side. By placing the tail in the tip vortex, additional energy is harnessed
Data Source
AI summary
A high-tailed wing sail is provided. A wing sail device includes a wing body including a wing tip and a wing base configured to rotationally couple with a vessel. The wing body is configured to freely rotate with respect to the vessel about a rotational axis. The wing sail device further includes a wing tail coupled to the wing body such that a top end of the wing tail is higher than the wing tip of the wing body.