Materials, components, and methods consistent with the present invention are directed to the fabrication and use of micro-scale channels with a fluid, where the temperature and flow of the fluid is controlled through the geometry of the micro-scale channel and the configuration of at least a portion of the wall of the micro-scale channel and the constituent particles that make up the fluid. Moreover, the wall of the micro-scale channel and the constituent particles are configured such that collisions between the constituent particles and the wall are substantially specular.

A riblet film for reducing the air resistance of aircraft, comprising a suspension with magnetic particles enclosed therein. Depending on the pattern of a magnetic field acting on the riblet film, the magnetic field that is acting can be made visible, at least in certain regions, by changing the orientation of the magnetic particles. The riblet film allows an inspection of the aircraft structure located under the riblet film through the riblet film.

The present invention provides a riblet structure that further reduces drag, which is a sum of turbulent friction drag and pressure drag, and an object including such a riblet structure. An object such as an aircraft, plant, and pipeline includes a wavelike riblet pattern on a surface. The wavelike riblet pattern includes a large number of wavelike riblets. Each of the large number of wave riblets includes a wavelike ridge line, and a height thereof changes cyclically with respect to a fluid flow direction. With such a configuration, drag, which is a sum of turbulent friction drag and pressure drag, can be further reduced.

An exemplary contaminant reducing assembly includes, among other things, an aerodynamic wing positioned directly in front of a windshield relative to a direction of flow over the windshield. The aerodynamic wing is configured to influence the flow of air over the windshield. The aerodynamic wing, in some examples, can move back and forth between a retracted position and a deployed position to influence the flow. In some examples, the windshield is coated with a hydrophobic coating, which can further facilitate contaminant reduction. An exemplary contaminant reducing method includes, among other things, influence a flow of air over a windshield using an aerodynamic wing positioned directly in front of the windshield relative to a direction of the flow. The method, in some examples, can include moving the aerodynamic wing from a retracted position to a deployed position to influence the flow.

Materials, components, and methods consistent with the present invention are directed to the fabrication and use of micro-scale channels with a fluid, where the temperature and flow of the fluid is controlled through the geometry of the micro-scale channel and the configuration of at least a portion of the wall of the micro-scale channel and the constituent particles that make up the fluid. Moreover, the wall of the micro-scale channel and the constituent particles are configured such that collisions between the constituent particles and the wall are substantially specular.

A turbine engine can comprise a fan section, compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section in axial flow arrangement. At least one of the fan section and compressor section can include an airfoil with a leading edge, and a plurality of riblets can be arranged on the leading edge.

In one embodiment, a method for reducing drag includes forming a smooth surface on a first portion of a physical object. The method also includes forming periodic riblets on a second portion of the physical object. The second portion of the physical object is adjacent to the first portion of the physical object. Each riblet of the periodic riblets of the second portion of the physical object is depressed below a plane of the smooth surface of the first portion of the physical object. The method further includes generating a flow over the periodic riblets of the second portion of the physical object and over the smooth surface of the first portion of the physical object. A length of each riblet of the periodic riblets runs parallel to a direction of the flow.

A method of preventing separation of a fluid flow flowing over a flow surface is described. The method includes generating longitudinal vortices for suppressing or delaying separation of the flow, and enhancing the longitudinal vortices. A flow body system having a flow body and a flow control arrangement is further described.

A system and method for regulating pressure inside a vehicle (cabin pressure) is disclosed. The system can include a forward gate and an aft gate that can be moved from a closed position to an open position to release cabin pressure in a controlled manner. The forward gate, the aft gate, or both can comprise an interior cavity and one or more permeable surfaces. When open, or partially open, an airflow can be created by a pressure differential between the cabin pressure and the pressure outside the vehicle (atmospheric pressure). At least a portion of the airflow can flow through the one or more permeable surfaces and the hollow cavity of the forward gate, the aft gate, or both to promote laminar flow through the gates and into the atmosphere alongside the vehicle (e.g., an aircraft fuselage). In this manner, flow efficiency can be increased and noise reduced.

A fluid channel formed with generally triangular-shaped performance enhancement features is disclosed. The fluid channels may be incorporated into heat exchanger or humidifier devices, the performance enhancement features generally having heat transfer and/or mass transfer performance enhancement applications. The heat transfer or mass transfer enhancement features are formed along the inner surfaces of the fluid flow passages of either the heat exchanger or humidifier plates and generally have sharp leading edges that create vortices in the fluid flowing through the passages. The heat or mass transfer enhancements protrude out of the inner surface of the fluid flow passages while leaving the outer surface of the fluid channel free of perforations. Alternatively, heat or mass transfer enhancements may be formed on separate inserts that are affixed to the inner surface of the fluid flow passages. The heat or mass transfer enhancements can be formed in metal plates or plastic plates using a variety of manufacturing techniques.