Duct arrangement and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12281664-B2
Application number	US-202218568433-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 23, 2022
Priority date	Jun 28, 2021
Publication date	Apr 22, 2025
Grant date	Apr 22, 2025

Abstract

According to the present disclosure there is provided a duct arrangement for influencing fluid flow, the duct arrangement comprising: a duct section arranged to receive a fluid flow therethrough, the duct section defining a first direction through the duct section from a fluid inlet end to a fluid outlet end; a rotor housed in the duct section, the rotor comprising one or more rotor blades; and a vortex generator surface housed in the duct section, the vortex generator surface arranged to induce vortices in the fluid flow through the duct section.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A duct arrangement for influencing a liquid flow, the duct arrangement comprising:
a first duct section arranged to receive the liquid flow therethrough, the first duct section defining a first direction through the first duct section from a liquid inlet end to a liquid outlet end;
a rotor housed in the first duct section, the rotor comprising one or more rotor blades;
a first vortex generator surface housed in the first duct section and on a respective one of the one or more rotor blades, the first vortex generator surface having projections which extend from a leading edge of the one or more rotor blades in a continuous wave-like profile, the first vortex generator surface arranged to induce vortices in the liquid flow through the first duct section; and
a second duct section defining a second direction through the second duct section from a liquid inlet end to a liquid outlet end, the second duct section comprising a second vortex generator surface at the liquid inlet end having curved projections in a direction opposite to the first direction forming a continuous surface with a leading edge of the second duct section having a wave-like profile, wherein the second vortex generator surface is arranged to induce vortices in the liquid flow downstream through the first duct section.

2. The duct arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the first vortex generator surface is one of a plurality of first vortex generator surfaces, and wherein the one or more rotor blades comprises a plurality of rotor blades, and each first vortex generator surface is provided on a respective one of the rotor blades.

3. The duct arrangement according to either of claim 1 , wherein the first vortex generator surface is further provided at or on the trailing edge of the respective one of the one or more rotor blades.

4. The duct arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the second vortex generator surface is provided upstream of the rotor along the first direction.

5. The duct arrangement according to claim 4 , wherein a third vortex generator surface is provided on one or more stator blades.

6. The duct arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the second vortex generator surface is in the form of a ring.

7. The duct arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the second duct section is attached to, supported by and/or is formed integrally with, the first duct section.

8. The duct arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the first duct section, the second duct section, the respective one of the one or more rotor blades, and/or a stator blade is selectively configurable to provide the first and/or second vortex generator surface to induce vortices in the liquid flow.

9. The duct arrangement according to claim 8 , wherein the respective one of the one or more rotor blades comprises a first rotor blade section, the duct arrangement comprising a second rotor blade section, wherein the first rotor blade section and the second rotor blade section are moveable relative to one another to provide the first vortex generator surface and/or second vortex generator surface.

10. The duct arrangement according to claim 9 , wherein the first rotor blade section is movable away from and/or toward the second rotor blade section.

11. A watercraft comprising a duct arrangement according to claim 1 .

12. A method of influencing a liquid flow, the method comprising:
providing a duct arrangement comprising a first duct section, a rotor, first vortex generator surface, and a second duct section including a second vortex generator surface, the first duct section arranged to receive the liquid flow therethrough, the rotor housed in the first duct section and including a rotor blade, the first vortex generator surface housed in the first duct section and on the rotor blade of the rotor, the first vortex generator surface having projections which extend from a leading edge of the rotor blade in a continuous wave-like profile, the second vortex generator surface having curved projections forming a continuous surface with a leading edge of the second duct section having a wave-like profile, and the first and second vortex generator surfaces arranged to induce vortices in the liquid flow downstream through the first duct section;
generating vortices in the liquid flow using the first and second vortex generator surfaces; and
receiving the liquid flow through the first and second duct sections.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the first vortex generator surface is one of a plurality of first vortex generator surfaces, and wherein the rotor blade is one of a plurality of rotor blades, and each first vortex generator surface is provided on a respective one or more of the one or more rotor blades, and wherein each of first vortex generator surfaces is configured to induce vortices in the liquid flow through the first duct section.

14. A duct arrangement for generating vortices in a liquid flow to reduce a vorticity magnitude of a wake, the duct arrangement comprising:
a first duct section arranged to receive the liquid flow therethrough, the first duct section defining a first direction through the first duct section from a liquid inlet end to a liquid outlet end;
a rotor housed in the first duct section, the rotor comprising a rotor blade;
a first vortex generator surface housed in the first duct section and provided on the rotor blade, the first vortex generator surface having projections which extend from a leading edge of the rotor blade in a continuous wave-like profile, the first vortex generator surface arranged to induce vortices in the liquid flow through the first duct section; and
a second duct section defining a second direction through the second duct section from a liquid inlet end to a liquid outlet end, the second duct section comprising a second vortex generator surface at the liquid inlet end, wherein the second vortex generator surface has curved projections in a direction opposite to the first direction forming a continuous surface with a leading edge of the second duct section having a wave-like profile arranged to induce vortices in the liquid flow downstream through the first duct section, the second duct section being provided upstream of the rotor along the first direction.

15. The duct arrangement according to claim 14 , wherein the first vortex generator surface is one of a plurality of first vortex generator surfaces, and wherein the rotor blade is one of a plurality of rotor blades, and each first vortex generator surface is provided on a respective one or more of the one or more rotor blades, and wherein each of first vortex generator surfaces is configured to induce vortices in the liquid flow through the first duct section.

16. The duct arrangement according to claim 14 , wherein the second vortex generator surface is provided upstream of the rotor along the first direction.

17. The duct arrangement according to claim 14 , wherein an additional vortex generator surface is provided on a stator blade upstream of the rotor and/or an additional vortex generator surface is provided on a stator blade downstream of the rotor.

18. The duct arrangement according to claim 14 , wherein the second duct section is attached to, or formed integrally with, the first duct section, and the second vortex generator surface is in the form of a ring.

Assignees

• Bae Systems Plc

Inventors

• Stark Callum
• Shi Weichao

Classifications

• B64C23/06

  by generating vortices · CPC title

• B64C11/18

  Aerodynamic features · CPC title

• B64C11/001 Primary

  Shrouded propellers · CPC title

• B63H5/14

  characterised by being mounted in non-rotating ducts or rings, e.g. adjustable for steering purpose (shrouding ring attached to blades B63H1/16; jet propulsion B63H11/00) · CPC title

• B63H1/18

  with means for diminishing cavitation, e.g. supercavitation · CPC title