Variable area flow duct employing secondary flows, and method therefor
US8015794B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 20, 2006 |
| Grant date | Sep 13, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 24, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF02K9/974
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A variable area flow duct and method. In one embodiment the flow duct includes a plurality of helical vanes arranged around an interior surface wall of the flow duct. The vanes cause secondary flow vortices to be developed in the vicinity of each of the vanes that effectively reduce the interior cross-sectional area of the duct that a primary flow sees as it flows through the duct. In various embodiments fluidic injection is employed to suppress the formation of the secondary flow vortices during certain phases of operation, for example, during an afterburn phase of operation of a jet aircraft engine which the flow duct is being used with. In another embodiment, an ablative coating is used over the vanes to suppress the formation of the secondary flow vortices. The ablative material is removed by the hot fluid flow during an afterburn phase of operation, thus exposing the vanes and enabling the subsequent formation of secondary flow vortices to narrow the cross-sectional area of the throat.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.