Back to results
US 12,129,009 B2Granted
Flettner rotor with localized suction
AssigneeThe Johns Hopkins University
InventorsRajat Mittal, Jung Hee Seo, Christopher Williams, Rui Ni
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A Flettner rotor that employs localized suction over its surface improves performance and fuel efficiency. Simulations and analysis show that such a method can significantly improve the performance of the Flettner rotor. Improvements in rotor performance enable reduction in fuel costs and greenhouse gas emission by ships or other modes of transport. Improvements in rotor performance can also reduce noise for applications such as drones or other devices having rotors.
Claims20
A device for propulsion comprising:
- an outer shroud having a surface defining an interior space, wherein the surface of the outer shroud is porous to allow fluid flow through the surface, and wherein the outer shroud is configured to rotate with an angular velocity;
- a circular-arc insert disposed within the interior space of the outer shroud, wherein the circular-arc insert is configured to rotate to any fixed position;
- and,
- a suction port formed by adjusting a space formed by the circular-arc insert.
1 more element
A device for propulsion comprising:
- an outer shroud having a surface defining an interior space, wherein the surface of the outer shroud is porous to allow fluid flow through the surface, and wherein the shroud is configured to rotate with an angular velocity;
- an inverse flow manifold disposed within the interior space of the outer shroud, wherein the insert is configured to rotate to any fixed position;
- and,
- a suction port wherein a location of the suction port is determined by rotation of the inverse flow manifold.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.