VTOL Aircraft Wing Lift via Dual-Temperature Planar Jets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current VTOL technologies face inefficiencies in generating vertical lift, particularly for aircraft with a thrust-to-weight ratio smaller than 0.1, and are limited in their ability to effectively utilize high-temp air for lift generation, leading to challenges in achieving VTOL for larger aircraft.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a turbofan engine with a low-temp duct and a high-temp duct, each with openable and closable propelling nozzles, and bypass ducts that direct low-temp and high-temp air as planar jets over the wing's upper surface, optimizing lift generation through the Bernoulli principle, with specific outlet ratios to enhance lift efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high-temp air is directed over the upper surface of the aircraft to generate vertical lift, then vertical lift generation efficiency is improved, but the upper surface of the aircraft may be burnt up
Solution Approach 1:
The bypass flow is divided into two separate temperature zones: a high-temp bypass duct carrying hot air and a low-temp bypass duct carrying cooler air. This segmentation allows the high-temp air to be directed over the upper surface for efficient lift generation while the low-temp air protects the aircraft surface from thermal damage.
Solution Approach 2:
A low-temp bypass duct acts as an intermediary protective layer between the high-temp air and the aircraft upper surface. The low-temp air flows over the aircraft surface, shielding it from the harmful thermal effects of the high-temp air while still allowing the high-temp air to generate vertical lift.
2Productivity
If low-temp bypass duct with thin slot outlet is used, then vertical lift generation efficiency is improved, but vertical lift is lost in the long bypass duct
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet of the bypass duct is configured with a specific height-to-width ratio smaller than 0.1, creating a thin slot outlet that directs air flow in a planar jet pattern. This dimensional optimization reduces flow losses while maintaining efficient vertical lift generation.
3Force
If traditional VTOL technologies are used, then vertical lift can be generated, but VTOL is impossible for aircraft with thrust-to-weight ratio smaller than 0.1
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the operational parameters by utilizing high-temp air from the bypass duct to generate vertical lift through aerodynamic heating and pressure differential effects. This parameter change enables VTOL capability for aircraft with thrust-to-weight ratios smaller than 0.1, expanding the applicability beyond traditional VTOL technologies.
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 allows for efficient vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) and forward flight capabilities, achieving a thrust-to-weight ratio less than 0.1, enabling VTOL for aircraft previously unable to do so, including large aircraft like the Airbus A380 when retrofitted.
Implementation Method 1
optimizing lift generation through the Bernoulli principle
Implementation Method 2
enables it, in form of low-temp planar jet (20), to flow over the upper surface of the wing along the direction of wingspan. Because the velocity of the air flowing over the upper surface of the wing is higher than that over the lower surface of the wing, and according to Principle of Bernoulli stating an increase in the speed occurs simultaneously with a decrease in pressure, a vertical lift is generated
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
Figure 7~9
AI summary
VTOL aircraft with a thrust-to-weight ratio smaller than 0.1, during vertical take-off/landing, obtains an another lift, besides a lift generated by low-temp bypass duct (15) directing the low-temp air (18) from the turbofan engine (3) to flow, through its outlet (19) in form of low-temp planar jet (20), over the upper surface of the wing and in the direction of the wingspan, by high-temp bypass duct (15) directing the high-temp air (18) from the turbofan engine (3) to flow, through its outlet (12) in form of high-temp planar jet (13), above the low-temp planar jet (20) in the direction of the wingspan and enables the ailerons (1, 2) to control the balances of the aircraft more efficiently.