Vortex generators to improve performance of flush air inlets

US8544799B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• EMBRAER S.A. · BR

Inventors

• Luis Fernando Figueira Da Silva · Rio de Janeiro, BR
• Sandro Barros Ferreira · Rio de Janeiro, BR
• Cesar Perez · Olathe, US
• Guilherme Oliveira · Savannah, US
• Antonio Batista De Jesus · São José dos Campos, BR

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 15, 2008
• Grant date: Oct 1, 2013
• Expiry date: Nov 27, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02T50/10
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A VG (vortex generator) placed on a body surface (aircraft or similar), upstream of a flush air inlet, in order to generate vortexes that will sweep away the boundary layer in front of the inlet, inducing a downwash effect in the freestream airflow, such VG consisting of a wing (1) parallel to the surface of the aircraft or similar, said wing supported by a support (2) or a pair of supports (2) such as fins disposed in a divergent angle; the VG considerably improves the inlet ram recovery ratio and the mass flow ratio of the air inlet and it has an effect of reduction of the VG boundary layer thickness, thus reducing the distortion level of the flow entering the inlet as the inlet ingests more freestream air and the vortexes are not ingested by the inlet.