High efficiency fluid movers
AssigneeHill Engineering, Inc.
InventorsCharles C. Hill, Theodore B. Hill
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Fluid movers produce at least predominantly laminar flow internally in an axial or a radial direction in a rotor. A fluid mover rotor comprises a matrix of passages of appropriate size to produce at least predominantly laminar flow spaced circumferentially around the rotor. The passages may provide axial, radial or mixed flow. “Appropriate” dimensions may be selected for a specified volume flow rate. In a radial embodiment, a matrix of radially extending passages could comprise walls having an axial height projecting from an annular disk. The passages may be offset with respect to the radial direction to provide an angle of attack that minimizes incidence losses. The matrix structure allows the use of thin-walled passages to minimize blockage of entering air.
Claims22
A device for transferring momentum to a fluid comprising:
- a cylindrical rotor having a largest dimension of less than 100 mm and axial length less than radial diameter;
- wherein said rotor defines a fluid inlet area A1 and a fluid outlet area A2, wherein A1 and A2 are both equal to or less than 5000 mm2, said rotor comprising a defined array of radially or axially stacked passages formed in said rotor for transferring momentum into the fluid as said fluid passes through said passages in response to rotation of said rotor, said passages having a maximum cross sectional dimension of between 0.5 and 5 mm and an aspect ratio of between 1:1 and 1:3;
- and
- a motor configured to drive said rotor to cause fluid to flow through said passages at a flow rate characterized by a Reynolds number of between 200 and 2300.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.