A flow vortex spoiler including an oil sump wherein pressurization air flow moves about the oil sump through a sump pressurization cavity, the cavity having an inlet, a circumferential plate disposed across a portion of the pressurization cavity near the inlet. The circumferential plate is disposed at said inlet to said sump pressurization cavity. The circumferential plate has a plurality of closely spaced apertures. The pressurization air has a radial component and a tangential component wherein the circumferential plate and the plurality of closely spaced apertures substantially reduce the tangential component of the pressurization air and further wherein the vortex spoiler inhibits excessive pressure change within the pressurization cavity and inhibits oil leakage at seals adjacent to the oil sump.

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 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.

An airflow system is provided that utilizes a vortex generator to efficiently draw ambient air into one or more automotive heat exchangers. Due to the use of the vortex generator, the air intake may be much smaller than that used in a conventional system and may have a significantly different aspect ratio from that of the heat exchanger, thus providing additional vehicle design flexibility. The vortex generator may use a single outlet or multiple outlets, and may be coupled directly or via a transition duct(s) to the heat exchanger(s).

This invention relates to a vortex station and method for producing a vortex similar to one of a group consisting of dust-devils and waterspouts. The apparatus comprises a ground platform forming a base for the vortex station, a plurality of vanes to direct an air flow into a vortex station and about the vortex station in a substantially swirling manner, at least one wind turbine disposed near the centre of said vortex station, in a path of a concentrated air flow, wherein the movement of the air in the vortex station is such that an atmospheric buoyancy vortex is created in the centre of the vortex station, a supply of a working fluid (e.g. water) to the vortex station at or near the centre of the vortex station such that the air is of a saturated condition or an at least partially saturated condition with the working fluid (e.g. water), the working fluid (e.g. water) supplied at a sufficient quantity or amount so as to assist with maintaining buoyancy and stability of a vortex created.

Example apparatus for regulator heat transfer are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a regulator including a body, a stem disposed therein, a first inlet and a first outlet. The regulator regulates a pressure of a fluid flowing from the first inlet to the first outlet. The example apparatus comprises a vortex generator disposed within the body to convey heat to a valve of the regulator. The stem controls the regulator and the vortex generator.

Provided is a fluid transportation device and a fluid transportation method in which a transported fluid such as a gas or a liquid can be ejected into a space from an ejection unit and transported locally to a target location distant from the ejection unit while minimizing scattering. The transporting fluid is ejected from an ejection port into a space and thereby forms vortex rings, and the transported fluid is fed to the outside of the transporting fluid at a speed that is lower than that at the center of the transporting fluid, whereby the transported fluid is directly accommodated in the vortex rings formed by the transporting fluid moving in a rolling motion at the ejection port, and transported together with the vortex rings.

A powder protecting three-way valve installed in a line of a semiconductor or flat panel display manufacturing apparatus to control flow of reaction by-product gas, includes: a valve casing comprising an inlet pipe through which the reaction by-product gas flows in and a plurality of outlet pipes through which the inflowing reaction by-product gas flows out in different directions; a rotating ball which is rotatably installed inside the valve casing and comprises an inlet hole communicating with the inlet pipe of the valve casing and outlet holes selectively communicating with the plurality of outlet pipes of the valve casing to control a direction of the flow of the reaction by-product gas; and a heating element installed in the valve casing to heat the inside of the valve casing.

A method of configuring a vortex flow control device 2 comprising a vortex chamber 4, an inlet 6 and an outlet 8 arranged at one end of the vortex chamber 4, wherein the method comprises the steps of: setting a target maximum flow rate F.sub.T-MAX through the outlet 8 for a predetermined pressure P.sub.T-MAX at the inlet; setting a target vortex initiation flow rate F.sub.T-VI through the outlet 8 at which vortex flow within the vortex chamber 4 initiates; determining the actual maximum flow rate F.sub.A-MAX through the outlet 8 for the predetermined pressure P.sub.T-MAX at the inlet 6; determining the actual vortex initiation flow rate F.sub.A-VI through the outlet 8; determining an error parameter E based on at least one of the actual maximum flow rate F.sub.A-MAX and the actual vortex initiation flow rate F.sub.A-VI and at least one of the target maximum flow rate F.sub.T-MAX and the target vortex initiation flow rate F.sub.T-VI; comparing the error parameter E against a target condition C.sub.T; and, if the error parameter E fails to satisfy the target condition C.sub.T, modifying at least one characteristic of the vortex flow control device 2 so as to vary at least one of the actual maximum flow rate F.sub.A-MAX and the actual vortex initiation flow rate F.sub.A-VI so that the modified vortex flow control configuration produces a hydraulic response that more closely satisfies the target condition C.sub.T.

Provided is a fluid flow control system, a well system, and a method. The fluid flow control system, in one aspect, includes a flow restrictor operable to receive production fluid having a pressure (P3) and discharge control fluid having a control pressure (P2), and a fluidic diode placed between the flow restrictor and the tubing, the fluidic diode configured to increase the control pressure (P2) to a higher control pressure (P2.sup.++) when the fluidic diode encounters lower viscosity fluids and is configured to increase the control pressure (P2) to a lower control pressure (P2.sup.+) when the fluidic diode encounters higher viscosity fluids. The fluid flow control system, in one aspect, further includes an inflow control device having a production fluid inlet, a control inlet operable to receive control fluid having the higher control pressure (P2.sup.++) or the lower control pressure (P2.sup.+), and a production fluid outlet.