Modification of fluid flow about bodies and surfaces through virtual aero-shaping of airfoils with synthetic jet actuators

A system for causing fluid flow in a bounded volume, comprising:

• (a) an obstruction disposed on an aerodynamic surface, said obstruction causing a fluid flowing over said aerodynamic surface to detach from said aerodynamic surface
• (b) an air pocket on said aerodynamic surface, said air pocket disposed at a downstream position relative to said obstruction and forming said bounded volume;
• and
• (c) a synthetic jet actuator situated within said bounded volume, said synthetic jet actuator to emit vortices to entrain an ambient fluid to cause said fluid flow within said volume, wherein the fluid flowing over said aerodynamic surface re-attaches to said aerodynamic surface downstream of said synthetic jet actuator.

A method for modifying a direction of a fluid stream flowing along a solid body, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing said fluid stream flowing along said solid body;
• (b) providing a surface mounted obstruction on said solid body such that a disturbance region is created in said fluid stream, said disturbance region being aft of said obstruction;
• (c) separating said fluid stream from a surface of said solid body;
• (d) generating a synthetic jet stream from said solid body that comprises a series of fluid vortices, said synthetic jet stream being generated downstream from said separation;
• (e) creating a bounded air pocket on said solid body by directing said synthetic jet stream into said disturbance region;
• (f) passing said fluid stream over said solid body;
• (g) modifying said direction of said fluid stream by contacting said fluid stream with said air pocket;
• and
• (h) re-attaching said fluid stream to the surface of said solid body downstream from said synthetic jet stream.

A system for modifying a fluid flowing over a solid body, comprising:

• (a) an obstruction disposed on the solid body, the solid body having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a defined length therebetween said obstruction extending Outwardly from the solid body into the fluid flowing over the solid body, said obstruction being a height equal to between one-half percent to three percent of said defined length;
• (b) a synthetic jet actuator positioned in the solid body such that the fluid flowing over the solid body encounters said obstruction before said synthetic jet actuator, said synthetic jet actuator having:
• a jet housing defined by walls, said jet housing having an internal chamber with a volume of fluid and an opening in said jet housing connecting said chamber to an external environment having the fluid, and
• a volume changing means for periodically changing said volume within said internal chamber so that a series of fluid vortices are generated and projected in said external environment out from said opening of said jet housing;
• and
• (c) a synthetic jet stream formed by said fluid vortices entraining the fluid of said external environment, said synthetic jet stream projected outwardly from the solid body, wherein the fluid flowing over the solid body contacts said synthetic jet stream, said direction of the fluid flow being modified by said synthetic jet stream.

A system for causing fluid flow in a bounded volume, comprising:

• (a) an obstruction disposed on an aerodynamic surface, said aerodynamic surface including a leading edge, a trailing edge, a chord therebetween having a defined length, said obstruction having a height equal to between one half percent to three percent of said defined length;
• (b) an air pocket on said aerodynamic surface, said air pocket disposed at a downstream position relative to said obstruction and forming said bounded volume;
• and
• (c) a synthetic jet actuator situated within said bounded volume, said synthetic jet actuator to emit vortices to entrain an ambient fluid to cause said fluid flow within said volume;
• and
• wherein said synthetic jet actuator is located aft of said obstruction at a location within a range from adjacent to said obstruction up to a distance equal to approximately three percent of said defined length.