Surface for low drag in turbulent flow
US5114099A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 4, 1990 |
| Grant date | May 19, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 4, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T50/10
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A nonsmooth surface of an object in a fluid flowstream permits a reduction of turbulent drag. The surface shape is designed to approximate a minimal surface and satisfies the equation (V.multidot..gradient.).gradient..PHI.=0, where V is the relative velocity between the fluid and the surface, .gradient..PHI. is the velocity of the strain tensor. The improved surface shape may be an array of diamond shaped elements having an airfoil like diagonal along the streamline, or it may be a series of wavelets juxtaposed to one another. The specific shape of the various types of elements to be used on the surface is selected based upon the acceleration or deceleration of the fluid at the particular position on the surface, as well as the intensity of the turbulence at that position.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.