WO2020190150A1

WO2020190150A1 - Propulsion apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2020190150A1
Application number: PCT/NO2020/050078
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roald Olai TERTNES
Original assignee: Tecama Holding As
Priority date: 2019-03-20
Filing date: 2020-03-20
Publication date: 2020-09-24

Abstract

Propulsion device in which a main duct (20) which runs over into several branch ducts (7) for flowing media, is enclosed by a housing (5) with at least one inlet opening (4), the branch ducts (7) which are arranged adjoining each other and are arranged to produce an increased pushing area around outflows from the branch ducts (7) to generate an increased thrust.

Description

Propulsion Apparatus

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a propulsion device.

Background of the invention

There are known propulsion systems which use an engine such as a propeller, jet engine or a rocket engine in a fluid, such as water or air. The motor is connected to a duct where the fluid flows through the propulsion system. The fluid that flows out of the outlet port of the duct acts on the medium it is in and pushes the propulsion system forward.

The challenge of designing propulsion systems for fluid environments is that one must decide what should have the highest priority: fluid velocity versus pushing surface. If one chooses to increase the velocity of the outflow fluid in the propulsion system or the propulsion device by narrowing the exit of the duct one will get a smaller pushing surface on which the outflow fluid will push, and thereby exert less force as a consequence of this. Conversely, if one increases the dimension of the outlet opening of the duct, the velocity of the outflow will be lowered proportionally. The area of the pushing surface that the forces act on is increased, but the forces acting on the pushing surface are lowered. Thereby one often compensates for this by increasing the power of the motor, which means that one needs a bigger engine and higher energy consumption. This in turn leads to higher greenhouse gas emissions and poorer economy. There is a need for a system that provides increased thrust without increasing the engine effect.

Disclosure of Prior Art

It is known to employ a propulsion system in which a fluid passes through a motor system and further out of an associated duct, where the thrust forces from the fluid which act on the area at the outlet of the duct push the propulsion device forward. It is known to use a division of such a duct to improve the maneuvering ability of the propulsion system. The publication US 764.152.6B1 shows a propulsion duct that is divided into several parts, but it has not been done according to the ejector principle to utilise the under pressure for an extra surface to push on.

In the document US 3.273.333 the mixing in of other streams is described, but again this is not used to increase the surface to push on.

Aim of the present invention

The aim of the invention is to overcome the above-mentioned challenges, to get an increase thrust of a propulsion system in air, water, gas, without increasing engine power.

The invention utilises the ejector principle by adding an extra fluid to an existing propulsion system to increase thrust without increasing engine power. Instead of a continuous outflow, the main stream is divided into several small ducts which are spread out to give an increase to the pushing surface. There will be some pressure drop in the outflow with the mushroom head shape when they meet sideways. All the mushroom heads form a continuous surface which, by the ejector principle, drags along the extra fluid between the ducts on the way out of the housing. 100% pushing force was reduced to 80% by extra resistance in small ducts, supply of extra fluid at an under pressure, and a pressure drop at the mushroom head area. On the other hand, the pushing area was approximately doubled, so that the thrust was 160% without increased engine power.

By dividing the main duct into two or more branch ducts inside the housing, the constriction in the duct opening can increase the rate of fluid flow through the branch ducts. At the outlet, the fluid from the duct will mix with the fluid in the housing. The fluid in the duct will retract and mix with the fluid from the housing that has an under pressure, thus creating a larger pushing surface. In this way one makes use of the inertia of the surroundings around the ducts so that all surfaces interact and form a unit for an increased surface area to push on. In one embodiment of the invention the pushing power in the propulsion system increases in that one increases the pushing area the fluids push on, while the velocity of the fluid is more or less unchanged. In another embodiment of the present invention, one will be able to increase the thrust force by increasing the velocity of the fluid inside the duct and at the same time have an unchanged pushing surface. A combined variation of these is also possible.

To increase the thrust in, for example, a viscous environment, the inertia which is generated by the under pressure between the ducts is utilised to get a greater effect by thrusting from a generally regarded larger surface. By viscous media it is meant fluids such as water, sea, air or gas. By a main duct is also meant a distribution duct.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention utilises the ejector principle of pressure differentials between two adjacent fluids. The main flow from the first fluid forms an under pressure where it flows past the second fluid, which is normally without pressure (pressure neutral). It is intended that the main fluid will attract the second fluid and mix these to the desired characteristics before flowing out of the housing together. A typical application is that one only uses one injector for the mixing of water and soap out of a high-pressure injector. The novelty of the invention is that you divide the main stream into many smaller ejectors in a larger device.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a propulsion device which increases a pushing surface of a propulsion system without increasing engine power.

Another aim of the present invention is to provide a propulsion device which increases a pushing surface of a propulsion system with the help of a mechanical method.

Furthermore, it is an aim of the present invention to provide a propulsion device which can use two different fluids to increase the pushing surface of the propulsion system. It is an aim of the present invention to provide a propulsion device which increases the speed of a first fluid flow inside a main duct of a propulsion system.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a propulsion device which increases the thrust of the system by increasing the velocity of the fluid flow in the system.

Another aim of the present invention is to provide a propulsion device which increases the thrust of the system by increasing the thrust surface of the system.

It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a propulsion device which increases the thrust of the system by combining an increase of the thrust surface and an increase of the velocity of the fluid flow to the system.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a propulsion device which has aerodynamically or hydrodynamically formed distribution ducts.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a propulsion device which can utilise distribution ducts of various shapes and lengths.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a propulsion device which can use rigid and flexible materials in the distribution ducts.

In one aspect of the invention, which concerns a propulsion device for viscous media in a propulsion system comprising a housing having a main duct that runs over into several branch ducts for flowing media, said branch ducts are arranged adjoining each other and are set up to provide an under pressure between outflows from the branch ducts to increase the pushing surface in the propulsion system.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention a propulsion device is provided where a main duct is connected to a propulsion system and which is branched to at least two branch ducts for through flow of a medium, where a first fluid flow flows in through the main duct and out through the branch ducts. The housing has at least one inlet opening for a medium in the form of a fluid that forms a second fluid stream, and at least one outflow opening for said fluid. The first fluid stream has a relatively higher velocity than the second fluid stream. The propulsion system moves in the opposite direction of the first and second fluid streams.

Furthermore, in another embodiment of the present invention a propulsion device is described where the inlet opening for the second fluid flow is formed as a

longitudinally running annular space in the housing.

According to another embodiment of the present invention the housing comprises a fan to increase the velocity of the second fluid flow.

In another embodiment of the present invention the housing comprises an inlet duct connected with the inflow opening.

The present invention encompasses a embodiment where the head of the inlet duct has a 90-degree turn so that the inflow opening is parallel with the outflow opening.

In another embodiment form of the present invention the branch ducts are rigid or flexible.

The present invention is comprised of an embodiment where the branch ducts have a curved path.

The present invention also includes an embodiment wherein the branch ducts are straight.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the inlet on the branch ducts has one larger diameter than the outlet of the branch ducts.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the main duct has a hydrodynamic configuration to the branch ducts. In cases where the present invention is used in air or gas, an embodiment where the main duct is described which has an aerodynamic design of the branch ducts.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the length of the branch ducts increases from the middle branch duct to the outermost branch ducts.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the main duct narrows into a nozzle shape which extends into the branching channels.

In one aspect, the invention relates to a propulsion device, wherein a main duct that runs over into several branch ducts for flowing media, is enclosed by a housing with at least one inlet opening, the branch ducts of which are arranged adjoining each other and arranged to increase the pushing area around outflows from the branch ducts, for the utilisation of an under pressure for the supply of fluid from a second fluid stream to generate increased thrust.

The main duct can be branched to at least two branch ducts for the flowing media in the form of a first fluid flow in through the main duct and out through the branch ducts,

- where the inlet opening of the housing forms an opening for a second fluid flow, and at least one outlet opening for said fluid flow, and

- where the first fluid stream has a relatively higher velocity than the second fluid stream so that the propulsion system moves in the opposite direction of the first and second fluid streams.

The inlet opening for the second fluid flow can be arranged upstream of the branch ducts in the housing.

The housing can comprise a fan for increasing the speed of the second fluid stream.

The housing can comprise an inlet duct connected to the inflow opening. The head of the inlet duct can have a 90-degree bend such that the inflow opening is parallel to the outflow opening. The branch ducts can be rigid or flexible.

The branch ducts can have a curved path.

The branch ducts can be straight.

The inlet of the branch ducts can have a larger diameter than the outlet of the branch ducts.

The main duct can have a hydrodynamic design for the branch ducts.

The main duct can have an aerodynamic design for the branch ducts.

The length of the branch ducts can increases from the middle branch duct to the outermost branch ducts.

The main duct can narrow into a nozzle shape which extends into several branch ducts.

Description of figures

Preferred embodiments of the invention shall in the following be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the invention in a general view.

Figure 2 shows another embodiment of the invention in a general view.

Figure 3 shows a perspective of an embodiment where the invention is used in water.

Figure 4 shows figure 3 viewed from the opposite side. Figure 5 shows a perspective of an embodiment according to the invention in which the propulsion medium is a jet engine.

Figure 6 shows a perspective of an embodiment according to the invention where the propulsion medium is a rocket engine.

Figure 7 shows a comparison of the pushing area of an existing propulsion device (at the left) and a possible embodiment of the propulsion device according to the invention (at the right).

Number explanation:

A - First fluid flow

B- Second fluid flow

A1- First fluid flow gets pressure drop which gives mushroom head shape at outlet of duct (7)

1. Propulsion device

2. Pushing area

2b. Pushing area existing propulsion device

4. Alternative inflow opening for the second fluid flow B

5. Housing

6. Nozzle shape

7. Branch duct

8. Exterior wall

10. Outflow opening

12. 90-degree bend

14. Inlet duct

16. Compressor

20. Main duct

22. Engine assembly

30. Water

32. Air

40. Rocket

100. Existing propulsion device Description of preferred embodiments of the invention

With reference to figure 1 a preferred embodiment of the present invention is described here. A main duct 20 is connected to a propulsion system which is in a fluid, such as water or air. Not shown in the figure is a motor device that is connected to the other end of the main duct 20. The end of the main duct 20 is enclosed by a housing 5 which has one or more inflow openings 4 in the upper the end of the housing. The inflow opening 4 can be, for example, designed as an opening to a longitudinally running annular space inside the housing 5. In other embodiments of the invention, the inflow opening 4 can be arranged arbitrarily on the housing 5 and in arbitrary forms, such as a full opening, slits, open sections, etc. There can also be several inflow openings on the housing according to what is the appropriate embodiment. The other end of the housing 5 is open, called the outflow opening 10. Inside the housing 5, the main duct 20 branches out into two or more branch ducts 7. Preferably, the outlet of the main duct 20 is narrowed into a conical cone shape, or nozzle shape 6, wherein the branching of the branch ducts 7 follows along the surface of the nozzle shape 6. The length of the branch ducts 7 can thus increase from the middle branch duct to the outermost branch ducts.

The branch ducts 7 can be in a rigid or flexible material. Furthermore, the branch ducts 7 can also have different degrees of curvature, as shown in figure 1. The main duct 20 has a hydrodynamic or aerodynamic design to the branch ducts 7. Through the main duct 20, a first fluid flow A flows with a velocity into the branch duct 7. The constriction of the channel dimensions increases the velocity of the fluid and increases the pressure. Through the inflow opening 4 a second fluid stream B flows into the housing 5 and is enclosed around the branch ducts 7. The first fluid stream A can have an overpressure relative to the second fluid stream B (if no fan is used). At the outflow opening 10, the two fluid streams A and B are mixed, and the velocity of the fluid stream A is lowered relative to the velocity within the branch ducts. At the outlet of the branch ducts 7, fluid flow A gets a pressure drop at A1 which gives the fluid a mushroom head shape. Upon unfolding, all the mushroom heads will become a combined area, as illustrated in fig.7 by a line. The entire area will attract fluid flow B out of the housing and together they will provide a larger pushing area 2 which gives greater thrust than what one would achieve without this system 2b. The thrust acts outwardly from the outflow opening 10 on the surrounding medium and drives propulsion systems forward in the opposite direction. Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment in which the thrust of the propulsion system is increased by increasing the pushing area from the fluids. In another embodiment of the present invention, one will be able to increase the thrust of the propulsion system by increasing the speed of the fluid, which is illustrated in Figure 2. The branch ducts 7 can be round, or have at least two sides, and be applied in the shape and size you want, based on what you prioritise. In one embodiment, the branch ducts 7 can be formed as a tube comprised of two sides with one crack in the joint between the two sides, where the one side is concave and the other convex, with a different curvature at the apex. The branch ducts 7 can have varying diameters along the entire length of the duct and different diameters between them.

In an appropriate embodiment, the cross section of the branch ducts 7 is in the form of a hexagon, as a honeycomb shape, not shown in the figures. Preferably, there are as many branch ducts 7 on each side of the centre line of the main duct 20. In one embodiment, the branch ducts 7 can be a straight line, re. fig. 2. In another embodiment, the diameter of the branch ducts be different from the connection to the main duct 20 and at the outlet port 10. The inner diameter, for example can be larger than the outer diameter of the branch ducts 7, as shown in fig. 2. The branch ducts 7 can be arranged mutually parallel or they can be positioned unevenly along the nozzle shape 6. The branch ducts 7 can be formed with different lengths, thicknesses, branches and shape.

The fluid stream B which is supplied to the housing 5 is either brought from the surrounding fluid or from another medium supplied via a duct system. Figures 3 and 4 illustrate such an embodiment, seen from two different angles, where the propulsion system lies in water 30, and where an inlet duct 14 protrudes above the surface and out into air 32. In this example, the inlet duct 14 has a 90-degree bend 12 such that the inlet opening of the fluid flow B is parallel to the outlet opening 10 of the housing 5. In this example, the under pressure inside the housing will draw air into the duct where it gets mixed with the water flow from the branch ducts 7 inside the housing 5. In this example, the 90-degree bent duct 12 points with the inflow opening in the same direction as the propulsion system moves in. The under pressure in the housing 5 acts as an additional suction in the embodiment rocket or jet engine which contributes to the propulsion.

In one embodiment (see figures 3 and 4), the propulsion device can be provided with a motor device 22 which is a propeller driven by a motor. The propeller creates a water stream A into the main duct 20. As can be seen in figure 3, there does not need to be an opening 4 between the main duct 20 and the housing 5 at the inlet. The main duct 20 branches out into the branch duct 7 where the water flows out of the branch ducts and further out in the outflow opening 10. Between each of the branch ducts 7 and between the branch ducts and the housing 5 there is space. The inlet channel 14 is in fluid communication with this space.

The inlet opening 4 will, for this embodiment, go via the inlet duct 14. The inlet duct 14 can have a bend 12 so that the opening of the inlet duct 14 faces in the same direction as the inlet opening of the main duct 20. The opening is thus directed in the direction of movement of the propulsion device. In that the opening is directed in the direction of movement of the propulsion device the air will be helped to flow (the fluid flow B) into the intake duct 14 and down into the space between the branch ducts 7. Due to the water flow out from the branch ducts 7, a under pressure is also created between the branch ducts 7 which will draw air in between the branch ducts 7 and out behind the branch ducts 7 and further on to the outflow opening 10 and contribute to give an increased thrust. The inlet duct 14 can also be fitted with a fan to provide additional airflow. The propulsion device, as it is described in this section, can have a use corresponding to an outboard motor, i.e. for the propulsion of a boat. Figure 5 illustrates an embodiment in which the engine system 22 is a jet engine which pulls the first fluid stream A into a compressor 16, further to the main duct 20 and then through the branch ducts 7 and out the outflow opening 10 in the housing 5. The second fluid stream B is drawn in through one or more inflow openings 4 along the periphery of the outer wall 8 or in the housing 5, depending on the engine type, the B flow can also be secondary fan air alone, or in combination of fluid from the inflow opening 4. The outer wall 8 encloses the motor system by running along the entire propulsion system up to the housing 5. The inflow openings 4 can be formed as one or more holes or slits, or a longitudinally running slit opening along the entire circumference or portions thereof. In an imagined embodiment the propulsion system can be used on a missile or a rocket for launch into the earth’s atmosphere as illustrated in figure 6.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a separate motor-controlled fan or compressor can be mounted within the housings 5 or 8 to compensate for the under pressure which arises (not shown in the figures). In this embodiment, the velocity of the second fluid stream B will increase, which means that the collected velocity of the first and second fluid streams A and B will increase at the outlet opening 10. This provides an increased thrust in the propulsion system. Figure 7 shows a comparison between a standard propulsion system 100, with 100% power A and 100% pushing area 2b, where a propulsion system 1 shows 100% power in, but which loses power in the additional supplied appliances: Increased fluid resistance in duct 7, a pressure drop as a consequence of the mushroom head shape of the outflowing fluid A1. Continuous mushroom heads that form a larger surface illustrated by a line also take power when an under pressure is used to supply fluid B. Overall, the propulsion system 1 gets 80% thrust at A1 , but because power is distributed over twice as much pushing area 2, provides the propulsion device 1 160% thrust versus 100% from the propulsion device 100. Thus, the propulsion device 1 achieves a much greater thrust force than the existing propulsion devices 100. The propulsion device can be described as a propulsion device for viscous media in a propulsion system in which a main duct 20 which runs into several branch ducts 7 for the flowing medium, enclosed by a housing 5 with at least one inlet opening 4 which branch ducts 7 are arranged adjoining each other and arranged to provide an under pressure between outflows from the branch ducts 7 for the generation of increased thrust in the propulsion system.

The main duct 20 can be connected to the propulsion system which branches to at least two branch ducts 7 for the flowing medium in the form of a first fluid flow A in through the main duct 20 and out through the branch ducts 7,

- in which the inlet opening 4 of the housing 5 forms an opening for a second fluid flow B, and at least one outlet opening 10 for said fluid flow, and

- in which the first fluid stream A has a relatively higher velocity than the second fluid stream B such that the propulsion system moves in the opposite direction of the first and second fluid streams A, B.

The invention can be regarded as a propulsion device in which a main duct 20 which runs over into several branch ducts 7 for the flowing medium, enclosed by a housing 5 with at least one inlet opening 4, said branch ducts 7 are arranged adjoining each other and are set to provide an under pressure between the outflows from the branch duct 7 for the generation of an increased thrust.

Claims

1. Propulsion device, wherein a main duct (20) that runs over into several branch ducts (7) for flowing media, is enclosed by a housing (5) with at least one inlet opening (4), the branch ducts (7) of which are arranged adjoining each other and arranged to increase the pushing area around outflows from the branch ducts (7), for the utilisation of an under pressure for the supply of fluid from a second fluid stream (B) to generate increased thrust.

2. Propulsion device according to claim 1 , in which said main duct (20) is branched to at least two branch ducts (7) for the flowing media in the form of a first fluid flow (A) in through the main duct (20) and out through the branch ducts (7) ,

- where the inlet opening (4) of the housing (5) forms an opening for a second fluid flow (B), and at least one outlet opening (10) for said fluid flow, and

- where the first fluid stream (A) has a relatively higher velocity than the second fluid stream (B) so that the propulsion system moves in the opposite direction of the first and second fluid streams (A, B).

3. Propulsion device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said inlet opening (4) for the second fluid flow (B) is arranged upstream of the branch ducts (7) in the housing (5).

4. Propulsion device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (5) comprises a fan for increasing the speed of the second fluid stream (B).

5. Propulsion device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (5) comprises an inlet duct (14) connected to the inflow opening (4).

6. Propulsion device according to claim 5, wherein the head of the inlet duct (14) has a 90-degree bend (12) such that the inflow opening (4) is parallel to the outflow opening (10).

7. Propulsion device according to claim 1 , wherein the branch ducts (7) are rigid or flexible.

8. Propulsion device according to any one of the preceding claims, whereinthe branch ducts (7) have a curved path.

9. Propulsion device according to any one of the preceding claims, whereinthe branch ducts (7) are straight.

10. Propulsion device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inlet of the branch ducts (7) has a larger diameter than the outlet of the branch ducts (7).

11. Propulsion device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the main duct (20) has a hydrodynamic design for the branch ducts (7).

12. Propulsion device in accordance with any of the preceding claims, wherein the main duct (20) has an aerodynamic design for the branch ducts (7).

13. Spreading device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the length of the branch ducts (7) increases from the middle branch duct (7) to the outermost branch ducts (7).

14. Propulsion device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the main duct (20) narrows into a nozzle shape (6) which extends into several branch ducts (7).