Compliant nozzle system and method for rotary propulsion
AssigneeGeorgia Tech Research Corporation
InventorsDaehyun CHOI, Mohammed Saad BHAMLA
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An exemplary rotary propulsion system and method for improving the thrust and propulsion efficiency of the rotary propulsors, including ship or underwater-vehicle propellers. A rotary propulsion system comprises a motor configured to drive a shaft; a rotary propulsor coupled to the shaft and configured to generate a wake flow; and a compliant nozzle positioned to receive at least a portion of the wake flow, the compliant nozzle comprising an elastically deformable wall, wherein the compliant nozzle is configured to passively deform in response to the wake flow to produce a self-excited unsteady outflow.
Claims22
A rotary propulsion system comprising:
- a motor configured to drive a shaft;
- a rotary propulsor coupled to the shaft and configured to generate a wake flow;
- and
- a compliant nozzle positioned to receive at least a portion of the wake flow, the compliant nozzle comprising an elastically deformable wall, wherein the compliant nozzle is configured to passively deform in response to the wake flow to produce a self-excited unsteady outflow.
A method of operating a rotary propulsion system, comprising:
- driving a rotary propulsor to generate a wake flow;
- passing at least a portion of the wake flow through a compliant nozzle having an elastically deformable wall;
- and
- passively deforming the wall in response to the wake flow to generate a self-excited unsteady outflow.
-21. (canceled)
An apparatus for a rotary propulsion system comprising:
- a compliant nozzle configured to be in operatively fluid communication with a rotary propulsor coupled to a shaft and a motor, wherein the rotary propulsor is coupled to the shaft and configured to generate a wake flow;
- wherein the compliant nozzle is positioned to receive at least a portion of the wake flow, the compliant nozzle comprising an elastically deformable wall, wherein the compliant nozzle is configured to passively deform in response to the wake flow to produce a self-excited unsteady outflow.
-27. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.