Inlet flow control system for jet engine

Abstract

Abstract IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME WAY TO IMPROVE THE RECOVERY OF THE INLET. THE FENCE MAY BE FIXEDLY MOUNTED IN ACTIVE POSITION OR MAY BE RETRACTABLE WITHIN OR FLUSH UPON THE FORWARD PORTION OF THE HOUSING. SYSTEM INCLUDES A HOUSING WHICH COMPRISES ALL OR PART ON AN INLET THROAT FOR DIRECTING FLOW OF INTAKE AIR FROM AMBIENT ATMOSPHERE TO COMPRESSOR OF JET ENGINE, HOUSING HAS THIN, SLIGHTLY ROUNDED INLET LIP. AT STANDSTILL OR LOW GROUND ROLL SPEEDS, COMPRESSOR DEMAND PULLS AIR IN LATERALLY ACROSS INLET LIP AMD THIS AIR BREAKS AWAY FROM HOUSING INNER WALL AT SMALL CURVATURE OF LIP, DISTURBING TOTAL FLOW AND OFTEN CAUSING COMPRESSOR STALL AND ENGINE FLAMEOUT. PERFORATE FENCE, WHICH IS PREFERABLY WIRE SCREEN, EXTENDS ALNG PERIPHERY OF INLET LIP IN FORE AND AFT ATTITUDE, AND LATERALLY FLOWING AIR PASSES THROUGH IT. FENCE PRODUCES FINE TURBULENCE AND HIGH VELOCITY AND ENERGY WHICH ENERGIZES THE BOUNDARY LAYER WITHIN THE THROAT AND IMPROVES AIRFLOW TO COMPRESSOR. AT HIGH CRUISE SPEEDS, THE EXCESS AIR ADJACENT TO THE STREAM TUBE FLOWS LATERALLY OUTWARD ACROSS THE INLET LIP AND THE SAME PERFORATE FENCE STRAINS THIS AIRFLOW AND ENERGIZES THE BOUNDARY LAYER ON THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE HOUSING TO DELAY THE DRAG RISE OF THE INLET LIP. IN A STRONG CROSS WIND, THE SAME FENCE ACTS

Inventors

• 👤 Victor Millman

Bibliographic Details