Systems and methods for suppressing turbulence in pipe and channel flows

Abstract

Systems and methods for active and passive suppression of the transition from laminar to turbulent fluid flow in conduits for fluid transport, which include pipes, channels, and semi-confined passageways. Examples include implementations of a turbulence model that predicts a turbulence transition mode of a fluid within the conduit and systems and methods for modifying the fluid in the conduit to reduce or suppress the predicted turbulence transition mode and thereby prevent or delay transition of the fluid flow from laminar to turbulent. Examples include active and systems to introduce disturbances into the fluid flow that cancel, absorb, or reduce the predicted turbulence transition mode. Examples include conduit liners configured to absorb energy from the fluid flow at a frequency of the predicted turbulence transition mode. Examples include textures and surface geometries configured to transfer energy in the fluid flow from the predicted turbulence transition mode to a different frequency.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.