Vehicle Fluid Controller Using Plasma Actuators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle wind deflector systems fail to effectively reduce both wind throb and wind noise without deteriorating the vehicle's appearance, and they often introduce additional noise sources.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle fluid controller comprising jet generators, a wind detector, and a jet controller that uses plasma actuators to generate air jets and control airflow over the vehicle-body opening based on wind speed and direction, thereby reducing noise without the need for a protruding wind deflector.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a wind deflector is provided to reduce wind throb, then wind throb is reduced, but wind noise is generated at high speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the wind throb reduction function from the traditional protruding wind deflector structure and implements it through plasma actuators that generate controlled air jets. This removes the source of wind noise (the protruding structure) while maintaining the wind throb reduction effect through active airflow control.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical wind deflector structure with a plasma-based actuation system. Instead of using a physical protruding structure to deflect wind, plasma actuators generate electric fields that ionize air molecules and create controlled jets to manipulate airflow, eliminating mechanical contact and associated noise.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a wind deflector with opening is provided to reduce wind throb, then wind throb is reduced, but the opening becomes an additional noise source
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the opening structure from the wind deflector and instead uses plasma actuators positioned at the edge of the vehicle-body opening to generate air jets that reduce wind throb. This eliminates the opening that would otherwise serve as an additional noise source.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces plasma actuators as an intermediary between the vehicle-body opening edge and the airflow. The plasma actuators generate controlled air jets that act as a mediator to disrupt vortex formation and reduce wind throb without requiring any physical opening or protruding structure.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a protruding wind deflector is installed, then wind throb is reduced, but the vehicle's appearance is deteriorated
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the wind throb reduction function from the protruding wind deflector and relocates it to plasma actuators that can be mounted flush with or integrated into the vehicle body surface. This maintains aerodynamic effectiveness while preserving the vehicle's aesthetic appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses plasma actuators that can be integrated into thin or flush-mounted configurations on the vehicle body, replacing bulky protruding structures. The plasma field itself acts as a flexible, invisible control mechanism that does not compromise the vehicle's exterior design.
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 system effectively reduces wind noise and wind throb by disturbing airflow, improving the vehicle's appearance and noise reduction without additional noise sources, while maintaining the vehicle's aesthetic integrity.
Implementation Method 1
at least one jet generator configured to generate a jet of air
Implementation Method 2
uses plasma actuators to generate air jets
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle fluid controller to be applied to a vehicle. The vehicle fluid controller includes a jet generator, a wind detector, and a jet controller. The jet generator is configured to generate a jet of air and is disposed at an edge of a vehicle-body opening through which a vehicle cabin of the vehicle is allowed to be open to an outside of the vehicle. The wind detector is configured to detect a speed and a direction of wind acting on the vehicle body of the vehicle. The jet controller is configured to control the jet from the jet generator in accordance with the speed and the direction of the wind in such a manner as to disturb an airflow passing over the vehicle-body opening along a surface of the vehicle body.