Apparatus and method for fluid manipulation

An intentional fluid manipulation apparatus (IFMA) assembly, the IFMA comprising:

• a boundary apparatus having an outside surface, the boundary apparatus being configured to move relative to a surrounding fluid;
• and
• an intentional momentum carrying apparatus (IMCA) coupled to the boundary apparatus frame, the IMCA being coupled to the boundary apparatus in a manner to reduce a flow velocity gradient in the proximity of the outside surface of the boundary apparatus frame.

An intentional fluid manipulation apparatus (“IFMA”) assembly, the IFMA comprising a first means for creating a first induced velocity resulting in a streamtube and a second means for creating a second induced velocity that intentionally modifies the streamtube, wherein the second induced velocity has a component in a direction opposite to the direction of the first induced velocity,

• wherein a net thrust is required from the IFMA assembly to fulfill a nominal operating condition, wherein the net thrust is equal to a first thrust vector of the first means plus a second thrust vector of the means, the first thrust having an induced power for providing the net thrust, the induced power being reduced by the second thrust as compared to a reference scenario in which in which the second means has a negligible effect on the fluid flow, wherein the induced power can be positive or negative

An aircraft comprising:

• wings and a fuselage;
• a downstream thrust apparatus affixed to the fuselage, the down stream thrust apparatus configured to apply a first thrust vector, the aircraft having a flight direction along a direction of a first thrust vector during nominal level cruise;
• an upstream thrust apparatus affixed to the fuselage, the upstream thrust apparatus configured to apply a second thrust vector opposite to the first thrust vector, the second thrust vector reducing the spatial flow velocity gradients in a vicinity of the fuselage during nominal level cruise.

A fluid manipulation apparatus comprising:

• a boundary apparatus having a surface configured for interacting with a fluid;
• and
• an intentional fluid manipulation apparatus (IFMA) assembly coupled to the boundary apparatus, the IFMA assembly being configured to decrease the spatial flow velocity gradients in the vicinity of the surface of the boundary apparatus.