Vortex Generator Duct Sections for Wake and Drag Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft and watercraft components face challenges in maintaining or increasing thrust or lift while reducing fuel consumption, managing turbulent wakes, and minimizing noise and drag.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a duct arrangement with a vortex generator surface that induces vortices in fluid flow, reducing wake magnitude and enhancing rotor efficiency by aligning projections to form a continuous wave-like profile, and a selectively configurable arrangement for liquid flow that provides a vortex generator surface when necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If duct sections are used to guide fluid flows and house components, then fluid flow guidance and component housing are improved, but wake magnitude increases
Solution Approach 1:
The duct is divided into multiple duct sections (first duct section, second duct section, third duct section) arranged in sequence along the fluid flow path. Each section performs a specific function: the first section guides flow, the second section with vortex generator surface reduces wake, and the third section further refines flow. This segmentation allows the system to maintain guidance functionality while actively reducing wake magnitude through the intermediate vortex-generating section.
Solution Approach 2:
The vortex generator surface on the second duct section intentionally generates vortices that appear harmful but actually serve to reduce the overall wake magnitude. These controlled vortices interact with the turbulent wake from the first duct section, redistributing energy and reducing the harmful wake effects downstream. This converts the potentially harmful vortex generation into a beneficial wake reduction mechanism.
2Device complexity
If conventional duct arrangements are used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but rotor efficiency decreases due to poor fluid flow properties
Solution Approach 1:
The vortex generator surface on the second duct section performs preliminary action by generating vortices and modifying fluid flow properties before the flow reaches the rotor (third duct section). This pre-conditioning of the flow improves the flow properties that the rotor will encounter, thereby enhancing rotor efficiency without requiring changes to the rotor itself or excessive complexity in the duct structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The vortex generator surface is applied locally on the second duct section rather than throughout the entire duct system. This localized application of the flow-modifying feature allows the majority of the duct structure to remain simple while concentrating the flow improvement function in a specific region where it most benefits rotor performance.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If wake reduction techniques are applied, then wake magnitude decreases, but drag increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vortex generator surface creates dynamic vortex structures that adapt to the flowing fluid, continuously interacting with the wake to reduce its magnitude. These dynamic vortices redistribute flow energy in a way that reduces wake while the third duct section further refines the flow to minimize drag, creating a dynamic balance between wake reduction and drag management.
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 improves propulsion efficiency, reduces wake and drag, and minimizes noise, particularly in watercraft, by inducing vortices that enhance thrust production and control turbulent wakes.
Implementation Method 1
the vortex generator surface is arranged to induce vortices in the fluid flow through the first duct section
Implementation Method 2
the vortex generator surface may be configured to interact with a fluid flow to induce vortices such that the properties of fluid flow comprises a vorticity magnitude
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
According to the present disclosure there is provided an arrangement (110) for influencing fluid flow, the arrangement comprising: a first section (1110) selectively configurable to provide a vortex generator surface, the vortex generator surface (3100) comprising a series of laterally aligned projections (1102), to induce vortices in the liquid flow.