US 6,682,021 B1 · System and method for actively manipulating and controlling fluid flow over a surface

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method for actively manipulating and controlling aerodynamic or hydrodynamic fluid flow over a surface. More specifically, the present invention provides a system and method to control aerodynamic or hydrodynamic fluid flow behavior of a ducted fluid flow using very-small-scale effectors. The system and method for actively manipulating and controlling fluid flow over a surface includes the placement of arrays of very-small-scale effectors on ducted surfaces bounding the ducted fluid flow. These very-small-scale effectors are actively manipulated to control the flow behavior of the ducted fluid flow and prevent flow separation within the primary fluid flow.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method to manipulate flow behavior of a ducted fluid flow using static very-small-scale effectors comprising the steps of:

placing arrays of static very-small-scale effectors on ducted surfaces bounding the ducted fluid flow, and wherein said arrays are oriented substantially normal to a mean flow direction of said ducted fluid flow;
altering a secondary flow structure in a boundary layer of the ducted fluid flow with said arrays of very-small-scale effectors on said ducted surfaces wherein said arrays of static very-small-scale effectors induce secondary flows with the ducted fluid flow;
sensing flow conditions within the ducted fluid flow, with a flow sensor system;
and
arranging said array of static very-small-scale effectors in response to said flow conditions to produce a desired fluid flow within said ducted fluid flow.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for actively manipulating and controlling fluid flow over a surface

Life of this patent

System and method for actively manipulating and controlling fluid flow over a surface

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19