The invention relates to thrust or fluid drive systems, such as those of fans, pumps, wind power plants, water craft and aircraft. The relative systems utilize an existing flow (repeller) or convert a given power (thermal, electrical, mechanical, etc.) to flow that generates force (or power) when it is applied to the surface of a solid body, which we call a wing. Wings (bearing surfaces) have a leading and a trailing edge, which define the wing chord and present an angle of attack in relation to a flow. For a fluid drive to function, a wing must be found in a flow.
For this purpose, the fluid drives of pumps, repellers (power generators), ships, aircraft, helicopters, etc. primarily use propellers that form an axial flow (if it does not already exist) and the wings thereof are simultaneously the application surfaces of the generated buoyancy or lift.
In addition to the many advantages, the known relative systems utilize finite wings (but with wing tips) or resistance surfaces (diffusers) which have power losses due to wing tip vortices and friction, are dangerous, and can be improved.
The object of the invention is to create relative actinic (radial flow) thrust or fluid drive systems. For this purpose, the invention either exploits an existing flow (e.g., wind, bulbous bow flow), or forms an actinic main flow which flows around at least one ring wing.
A ring wing (11) (an annular wing) is a body such as a truncated cone, the leading and trailing edges thereof (corresponding to top and bottom surfaces, circular periphery of a truncated cone) define the chord of ring wing (11) (rectilinear side length) and the latter forms the angle of inclination (φ) with the plane of the top surface (
The ring wing surface (cone envelope) may have different forms, such as, e.g., a longitudinal grooved form (shark skin), straight, elliptical or curved, or also can be provided with a slit peripherally to the leading edge.
An actinic fluid drive (AF) is the drive system in which at least one ring wing (11) is found in an actinic main flow (15), the direction (plane) of which forms the angle of attack (θ) along with the chord on the leading edge of ring wing (11), this angle of attack being greater than 0 and smaller than 90 degrees—particularly greater than 8 degrees, and the actinic main flow (15) is inclined (generation of thrust) analogous to the angle of attack (θ) according to the Coanda effect (
The characteristic values of the AF, such as angle of attack (θ), angle of inclination (φ), are dependent on the velocity of the ambient flow (or transport velocity) and may be adjustable (e.g., by adjustable trailing edge diameter or varied ring wing bottom surface periphery).
In AF, the main flow (15) reduces the pressure over the upper side of the ring wing (the lower side of the wing is either without flow or is a closed conductor) and is inclined due to the angle of inclination (φ) and the elevated ambient pressure (fluid pressure over the level of main flow) analogous to the angle of attack (θ) (Coanda effect); thrust is generated, and the flow becomes laminar.
Main flow (15) here is the flow which is responsible for the function of the AF (it can be produced by a secondary flow, or secondary flows). It can arise directly from an axial flow (ring wing top surface form—
The thrust of an AF increases if the system comprises ring wings (11) placed one behind the other, where the second ring wing surrounds the first (the third surrounds the second, etc.) and the angle of inclination (φ) of each ring wing (11) is greater than the previous one.
The AF can be provided with a ring conductor (13), which surrounds the trailing edge of the last ring wing (11) (ring wing top and bottom surface form) and the main flow (15) after being conducted to the intake surface of a radial impeller (12), is recycled to the leading edge of the first ring wing (11). The closed actinic fluid drive (CAF) is one of the least dangerous, both for the conducting system as well as for the working environment (
The advantages of the AF are: the absence of wing tip vortices, the good efficiency, the small surface area required for the production of a specific power, the safe operation and the large field of application.
The AF can replace the propeller for any relative applications and can also reduce the form drag (e.g., in rockets, bulbous bows of ships, aircraft tips, hubs, etc.). The AF can operate, e.g., as: fans, ventilators, two-phase pumps, propulsion or lift generators (water-air propellers), repellers (which produce mechanical power from a flow) and as actinic ring wing profile channel measuring systems.
The invention is described by means of the following figures:
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Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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20070100750 | Dec 2007 | GR | national |
2008011707 | Nov 2008 | GR | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/GR08/00067 | 12/2/2008 | WO | 00 | 8/25/2010 |