The present invention is directed to an improved fluid diode using topology optimization with Finite Element Method (FEM). Topology optimization as a flexible optimization method has been extended to the fluid field. For given boundary conditions and constraints, it distributes a specific amount of pores (or remove materials to get channel) in the design domain to minimize/maximize an objective function. In this design, inlet and outlet ports are aligned and inflow and outflow are in the same direction. The present invention features an intricate network of fluid channels having optimized fluid connectivity and shapes, which significantly improves the diodicity of fluidic passive valves.

A vortex flow inducer has inducer body with an interior end, an outer end and a length extending there between, and a longitudinal axis extending between the interior and the outer ends. A flow passage extends between the interior and outer ends of the inducer body. The flow passage has an inlet at the outer end and an exit at the interior end. The flow passage is swept laterally toward a side of the inducer body in a direction from the outer end toward the interior end such that the exit is laterally offset from the longitudinal axis. The interior end of the inducer body has a concave curvature. The swept flow passage and the curved interior end induce a vortex flow in a fluid flowing through the flow passage as it exits the flow passage and into a flow passage of a conduit the that extends at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the inducer body.

A pneumatic system includes a passage to discharge compressed air and a sound attenuator including a first chamber in fluid communication with the passage and defined by a first wall through which the passage opens into the first chamber, a first surface of a second wall spaced from and opposite the first wall, and a sidewall extending between the first and second walls. The first chamber has a volume and includes a first opening in the sidewall. A second chamber is in fluid communication with the first opening and partially surrounds the first chamber. The second chamber is partially defined by a second surface of the second wall opposite the first surface and by the sidewall, and the second chamber has a volume and includes a second opening to exhaust air from the second chamber. The volume of the first chamber is less than that of the second chamber.

A pneumatic system includes a fluidic switching module having an air passage and a vent in fluid communication with the air passage. The pneumatic system also includes a sound attenuator coupled to the fluidic switching module, the sound attenuator having a first chamber in fluid communication with the vent, a first orifice in fluid communication with the vent via the first chamber, a second chamber in fluid communication with the first chamber via the first orifice, and a second orifice in fluid communication with the first orifice via the second chamber.

A vortex ring generation device includes a casing having a discharge port, an extrusion mechanism, and a component supply port. The extrusion mechanism extrudes air in an air passage inside the casing such that the air is discharged, in a vortex ring shape, from the discharge port. The component supply port surrounds the air passage. A total circumferential length of the component supply port is or more of a total circumferential length of the discharge port. The extrusion mechanism includes a vibration plate and a drive unit that vibrates the vibration plate. The air passage includes a first passage, and a throttle passage continuous with a downstream end of the first passage. A component chamber is provided inside the casing. The component chamber contains a discharge component to be supplied to the component supply port. The component supply port is located downstream of the throttle passage.

A vortex ring generation device includes a casing having a gas passage and a discharge port, and an extrusion mechanism that extrudes a gas in the gas passage such that the gas in a vortex ring shape is discharged from the discharge port. V (m.sup.3) represents an extrusion volume, D (m) represents a diameter of the discharge port, L (m) represents a length of a cylinder having the diameter D and the volume V, and Re represents a Reynolds number of the discharged gas. 500Re3000 and 0.5L/D2.0.

A vortex ring generation device includes a casing having a gas passage and a discharge port, and an extrusion mechanism that extrudes a gas in the gas passage such that the gas in a vortex ring shape is discharged from the discharge port. V (m.sup.3) represents an extrusion volume, D (m) represents a diameter of the discharge port, L (m) represents a length of a cylinder having the diameter D and the volume V, and Re represents a Reynolds number of the discharged gas. 500Re3000 and 0.5L/D2.0.

A vortex-controlled variable flow resistance device ideal for use in a backpressure tool for advancing drill string in extended reach downhole operations. The characteristics of the pressure waves generated by the device are controlled by the growth and decay of vortices in the vortex chamber(s) of a flow path. The flow path is designed to produce alternating primary and secondary vorticesone clockwise and one counter-clockwisewhere the primary vortex is stronger and produces higher backpressure than the secondary vortex. This in turn generates alternating weak and strong pressure pulses in the drill string. The weak pulses may be barely perceptible so that the effective frequency of the pulses is determined by the stronger primary vortices.

A coolant tank includes: a tank main body configured to store a coolant discharged from a processing machine; a vortex flow generator that creates a vortex flow of the coolant in the tank main body; and a float configured to float on a liquid surface of the coolant stored in the tank main body. An outer peripheral portion of the float has a shape conforming to a shape of an inner peripheral wall surface of the tank main body and forming a gap between the outer peripheral portion and the inner peripheral wall surface.

A vortex control device for modifying a vortex in a fluid stemming from a wall is disclosed. The device includes a rotatable hub disposed within an opening in the wall. The device also includes an inlet port and an outlet port in the rotatable hub. The inlet port forms a suction port to suction fluid from or about the vortex, and the outlet port forms an injection port to inject fluid into or about the vortex.