US 5,934,622 A · Micro-electrode and magnet array for microturbulence control

Abstract

A boundary layer control device for a surface which reduces turbulence by oviding forces which counteract microturbulent events occurring at the surface. The microturbulent events occur periodically with a known topography and include liftup and ejection, bursting, low-speed streak and sweep topography. The device has an array of magnet and electrode cells which are arranged to correspond with the topography arrangement of the microturbulent events. The interaction of the magnetic and electric fields within the cells generate a Lorentz force which can be directed into or out of the surface depending on the relative directions of the magnetic and electric fields. Sensors on the surface determine which cells to activate and in what direction to apply the Lorentz force to precisely counteract the microturbulent events occurring at the surface. A force directed away from the surface is used to counteract a sweep event and a force directed towards the surface counteracts a liftup event. No force is applied during low-speed streak events.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A device for controlling discrete microturbulent events within a medium at a surface exposed to the medium, the microturbulent events having a determinable distribution over the surface, the device comprising:

an array of selectively activated cells distributed over the surface in corresponding relationship to the distribution of microturbulent events, each cell having an electric field generating means and a magnetic field generating means arranged such that activation of the cell results in an interaction of the electric field and the magnetic field at the cell, the interaction producing a Lorentz force at the cell in opposition to the microturbulent event being controlled;
and
a controller determining the state of the microturbulent events at the surface by differentiating between a liftup state, a burst state, a streak state and a sweep state of the microturbulent events and selectively activating the cells to produce the Lorentz forces opposing the state.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Micro-electrode and magnet array for microturbulence control

Life of this patent

Micro-electrode and magnet array for microturbulence control

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11