Exhaust plume cooling using periodic interruption of exhaust gas flow to form ambient air entraining vortices
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorsDan J. Baruzzini, Neal David Domel, Daniel N. Miller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An exhaust plume cooling device for cooling an exhaust gas plume to reduce deleterious heat effects on impinged and surrounding surfaces. The device is supportable in a position downstream of an exhaust nozzle of an exhaust gas plume-producing engine and configured to periodically interrupt the flow of exhaust gases.
Claims11
An exhaust plume cooling device for cooling an exhaust gas plume to reduce deleterious heat effects on impinged and surrounding surfaces, the device comprising:
- a vent supportable in a position downstream of an exhaust nozzle of an exhaust gas plume-producing engine and across an exhaust plume zone that is occupied by an exhaust plume when the engine is running;
- an actuator operably connected to the vent and configured to alternately open and close the vent;
- and
- a vent controller configured to command the actuator to alternately open and close at a rate and duty cycle that forms exhaust gas pulses that form vortical structures that entrain currents of ambient air.
A method for cooling an exhaust gas plume to reduce deleterious heat effects on impinged and surrounding surfaces;
- the method including the steps of;
- supporting a vent across an exhaust plume zone that is occupied by an exhaust plume when an engine is running;
- and
- periodically interrupting a flow of exhaust gases by opening and closing the vent at a rate and duty cycle sufficient to cause resulting exhaust gas pulses to form vortical structures that entrain large currents of the ambient air.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.