Active vortex control with moveable jet
AssigneeNational Research Council of Canada
InventorXingzhong Huang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a method of controlling vortex breakdown on an aerodynamic surface, a vortex generated by the aerodynamic surface is continually monitored to identify a non-linear region where vortex breakdown occurs. A fluid jet is blown into the non-linear region to displace the vortex breakdown to a target location. A blowing parameter for the fluid jet is continually adjusted to continually direct the fluid jet into the vortex breakdown region and preferably ensure maximum positive feedback. The fluid jet is dynamically displaced toward the sensitive spot to maximize the effectiveness of the jet.
Claims27
A method of controlling a leading edge vortex on an airplane wing comprising:
- blowing a fluid jet into, or sucking a fluid jet out of, a fluid flow field adjacent a surface of said wing, said fluid jet having a source displaceably located on said airplane wing so as to be moveable over said surface;
- continually identifying a sensitive spot in a region of said fluid flow field displaced from a vortex breakdown region where the control power required to strengthen or destroy said vortex is a non linear function of the distance between said fluid jet and said breakdown region, and
- dynamically displacing said source of said fluid jet along a predetermined path extending over said airplane wing as said vortex breakdown region moves over said airplane wing to continually direct said jet onto said sensitive spot and thereby control the position of said breakdown region.
An arrangement for controlling a leading edge vortex on an airplane wing, comprising:
- at least one sensor for developing a signal identifying a sensitive spot in a non-linear region displaced from a breakdown region where vortex breakdown of said vortex occurs and where the control power required to strengthen or destroy said vortex is a non linear function of the distance between said fluid jet and said breakdown region;
- and
- a fluid jet generator for generating a fluid jet that can be blown into or sucked out of said non-linear region to displace said vortex breakdown to a target location, said fluid jet generator being continually displaceable along a predetermined path over a surface of said airplane wing to direct said fluid jet into said sensitive spot in said fluid flow field near the vortex breakdown region and thereby control the position of said vortex breakdown region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.