US 12,281,664 B2
Duct arrangement and method
Callum Stark, Glasgow (GB); and Weichao Shi, Glasgow (GB)
Assigned to BAE SYSTEMS PLC, London (GB)
Appl. No. 18/568,433
Filed by BAE SYSTEMS plc, London (GB)
PCT Filed Jun. 23, 2022, PCT No. PCT/GB2022/051596
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 8, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2023/275516, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 5, 2023.
Claims priority of application No. 21275089 (EP), filed on Jun. 28, 2021; and application No. 2109275 (GB), filed on Jun. 28, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0295230 A1, Sep. 5, 2024
Int. Cl. B63H 1/18 (2006.01); B63H 1/16 (2006.01); B63H 5/14 (2006.01); B64C 11/00 (2006.01); B64C 11/18 (2006.01); B64C 23/06 (2006.01); F15D 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC F15D 1/0015 (2013.01) [B63H 1/18 (2013.01); B63H 5/14 (2013.01); B64C 11/001 (2013.01); B64C 11/18 (2013.01); B64C 23/06 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
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.
 
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.