Hybrid Drive Engine Aerosculpted Disks
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing compressor/turbine systems face inefficiencies due to the use of aerodynamic vanes, which lead to complications such as heat-related stress, high production and maintenance costs, and aerodynamic losses, particularly in vane-less designs that fail to effectively convert thermodynamic energy into mechanical energy.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid drive engine with a vane-less design utilizing aerosculpted annular disks in both compressor and turbine sections, configured to achieve aerodynamic lift and efficient energy conversion through boundary layer airflow and adhesion, without the complexities and costs associated with traditional vane-based systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If aerodynamic vanes are used in compressor/turbine systems, then energy conversion efficiency is improved, but heat-related stress and structural damage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the aerodynamic vanes from the system, transitioning to a vane-less compressor/turbine design. This eliminates the vanes that are subjected to heat-related stress and structural damage while maintaining energy conversion functionality through alternative means such as centrifugal force and fluid dynamics in the vane-less configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The vane-less design employs simpler, more durable components that can withstand harsh thermal environments without the structural vulnerabilities of traditional vanes. The system uses robust, easily replaceable elements that resist heat-related stress and do not require complex cooling arrangements.
2Reliability
If aerodynamic vanes with cooling arrangements are used, then resistance to metal fatigue is improved, but device complexity and production cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex cooling arrangements entirely by eliminating the aerodynamic vanes that required such cooling systems. The vane-less design inherently avoids the metal fatigue issues that necessitated complex cooling infrastructure, simplifying the overall system while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical vane system with a vane-less configuration that uses fluid dynamics and centrifugal force for energy conversion. This substitution eliminates the need for mechanical cooling arrangements, as the alternative design does not suffer from the same heat-related structural vulnerabilities.
3Device complexity
If vane-less designs are used, then device complexity is reduced, but energy conversion efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic fluid flow patterns and centrifugal force mechanisms in the vane-less design to achieve effective energy conversion. The system utilizes rotating components and controlled fluid dynamics to maintain high efficiency without requiring static aerodynamic vanes, thereby preserving simplicity while enhancing performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes key operational parameters such as rotational speed, fluid flow velocity, and pressure differentials to optimize energy conversion in the vane-less configuration. By adjusting these parameters, the system achieves efficient energy transfer without the need for complex vane structures, maintaining both simplicity and effectiveness.
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 hybrid drive engine enhances efficiency by effectively converting thermodynamic energy into mechanical energy while simplifying the design and reducing costs, thereby overcoming the inefficiencies of traditional systems.
Implementation Method 1
The aerodynamic nature of the disks/disk stack cause each disk thereof to form two opposing airfoil shapes either head to head or trailing edge to trailing edge across the through hole
Implementation Method 2
capitalizes on boundary layer air flow and adhesion with the Bernoulli advantage of lift
Implementation Method 3
capitalizes on boundary layer air flow and adhesion with the Bernoulli advantage of lift
Implementation Method 4
turbine systems have been designed to take advantage of the flow characteristics of hot fluids by utilizing a series of aerodynamic vanes
Implementation Method 5
compressor sections each having a plurality of symmetrical annular disks (disk stack) that are each aerosculpted (i.e. aerodynamically configured) for aerodynamic effects of lift
Data Source
AI summary
A hybrid drive engine uses air foil shaped disks of a first configuration for a compressor portion thereof and air foil shaped disks of a second configuration for a turbine portion thereof, whereby the disks exhibit aerodynamic effects of lift. Particularly, the compressor disks are configured to cause aerodynamic lift off of a periphery of the disks, while the turbine disks are configured to cause aerodynamic lift off of an inner hole of the disks. The aerodynamic nature of the disks cause each disk thereof to form two opposing airfoil shapes either head to head or trailing edge to trailing edge across the through hole.