Method and system for regulating external fluid flow over an object's surface, and particularly a wing and diffuser

A fluid flow control system comprising:

• an object having at least one surface subjected to a fluid, such that said fluid flows about said object;
• a fluid flow regulator featured and operable with said surface, said fluid flow regulator comprising:
• a leading edge;
• a pressure recovery drop that extends a predetermined distance away from said leading edge and has at least one drop face formed therein, said pressure recovery drop functions to regulate existing pressure gradients along said surface to optimize and equalize said fluid flow;
• a sub-atmospheric barrier that is suddenly generated as said fluid encounters and flows over said pressure recovery drop, said sub-atmospheric barrier comprising a low pressure area of fluid molecules having decreased kinetic energy that serve as a cushion between said higher kinetic energy fluid molecules in said fluid and the molecules at said surface;
• and
• a trailing edge. that defines and extends from the base of said pressure recovery drop, said fluid flow regulator functioning to optimize fluid flow over said surface of said object.

A method for influencing external fluid flow over the surface of an object by regulating pressure gradients, and for reducing fluid separation about said surface, said method comprising the steps of:

• featuring at least one fluid flow regulator with one or more surfaces of an object having at least one surface thereon, said fluid flow regulator comprising:
• a pressure recovery drop having at least one drop face formed between a leading and trailing edge and having an identified and calculated distance;
• subjecting said object to a fluid, such that said fluid is caused to move about said object;
• and
• causing said fluid to encounter said fluid flow regulator, such that said pressure recovery drop induces a sudden drop in pressure as said fluid flows over said fluid flow regulator, wherein a sub-atmospheric barrier is created at the base of said drop face, said fluid flow regulator functioning to optimize fluid flow about said object, thus increasing the performance of said object in said fluid.

A method for controlling the flow of fluid across an object surface and reducing fluid separation, said method comprising the steps of:

• obtaining an object subject to fluid flow, said object having one or more fluid bearing surfaces over which a fluid may flow;
• featuring one or more fluid flow regulators in said fluid bearing surfaces, said fluid flow regulator regulating pressure gradients and optimizing fluid flow and the performance of said object in said fluid;
• subjecting said object to said fluid;
• and
• causing said fluid to flow about said object so that said fluid encounters said one or more fluid flow regulators.

A wing structure comprising:

• a frontal surface;
• an upper surface relating with said frontal surface;
• a lower surface opposite said upper surface and relating with said frontal surface;
• a wing tip relating to said upper and lower surfaces;
• and
• at least one fluid flow regulator featured and operable with said upper surface said fluid flow regulator comprising a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a pressure recovery drop extending between said upper and lower surface to form a down step, said pressure recovery drop comprising at least one drop face of a calculated height formed therein, said fluid flow regulator functioning to optimize air flow over said surface of said wing during flight of an aircraft and during various angles of attack.

A method of improving fluid flow over a wing comprising the steps of:

• obtaining a wing, said wing comprising an upper and lower surface;
• featuring a fluid flow regulator in at least one of said upper and lower surfaces, said fluid flow regulator comprising:
• a pressure recovery drop having a drop face of an identified, pre-determined distance;
• a sub-atmospheric barrier induced at the base of said drop face as a fluid passes over said fluid flow regulator;
• subjecting said wing to a fluid;
• and
• regulating the pressure across said surface to optimize fluid flow over said wing.

A diffuser vane of a diffuser comprising:

• a deflector surface that receives fluid flow thereon from one or more fluid flow generators;
• at least one fluid flow regulator featured with said deflector surface, said fluid flow regulator comprising:
• at least one fluid flow regulator featured and operable with said deflector surface, said fluid flow regulator comprising:
• a leading surface;
• a trailing surface;
• a pressure recovery drop extending a pre-determined distance between said leading and trailing surfaces to form a down step, said pressure recovery drop comprising at least one drop face of a calculated height formed therein, said fluid flow regulator functioning to regulate existing pressure gradients along said diffuser vane to optimize and equalize said fluid flow and to reduce the separation potential of the fluid, wherein said regulation of said pressure gradients positively influences the flow properties and behavior of said fluid across said deflector vane, and the performance of said diffuser;
• a sub-atmospheric barrier that is generated as said fluid encounters and flows over said pressure recovery drop, said sub-atmospheric barrier comprising a low pressure area of fluid molecules having decreased kinetic energy that serve as a cushion between said higher kinetic energy fluid molecules in said fluid and the molecules at said surface to facilitate laminar flow and assist in the reduction of the separation potential of said fluid;
• and
• a trailing edge that defines and extends from the base of said pressure recovery drop that provides a trailing flow boundary for said fluid.