Encapsulated magneto hydrodynamic drive

A fluid propulsion system configured to propel an ambient fluid through a propulsion channel. To do so, the present invention includes a hollow main body having a propulsion channel extending therethrough. The main body includes a base structure, a flexible bladder attached thereto, and a fluid (e.g., liquid, gas, or plasma) enclosed within the bladder. The present invention further includes a field source that produces an electromagnetic or magnetic field. The bladder and/or the enclosed fluid is configured to respond to the electromagnetic or magnetic field. Movement of the bladder in response to energization of the field sources alters a degree of occlusion of the propulsion channel. Energizing sequential field sources causes the occluded section of the bladder to propel the ambient fluid through the propulsion channel creating a reactionary force to propel the fluid propulsion system in the opposite direction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates, generally, to electromagnetic hydrodynamics, magneto hydrodynamic propulsion and magneto hydrodynamic drive systems.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art

Magneto hydrodynamic propulsion or magneto hydrodynamic drive (MHD) concepts provide nearly silent propulsion for submersible vehicles with no moving parts. These MHD system propel vehicles using only electric and magnetic fields with no moving parts by accelerating an electrically conductive propellant (liquid or gas) with magnetohydrodynamics. The fluid is directed to the rear of a propulsion tube and as a reaction, the vehicle accelerates forward.

The first studies examining MHD in the field of marine propulsion date back to the early 1960s. However, few large-scale working prototypes have been built, as marine MHD propulsion remains impractical due to its low efficiency, which is limited by the low electrical conductivity of seawater. Increasing current density is limited by Joule heating and water electrolysis in the vicinity of electrodes. Increasing the magnetic field strength is limited by the cost, size, and weight (as well as technological limitations) of electromagnets and the power available to feed them. Moreover, MHD systems are far less efficient in fresh water or air because of the lack of electrical conductivity of fresh water and air.

As explained above, previous work in this area involved the ionization of the surrounding fluids, such as sea water. This is a highly inefficient process and resulted in only limited success as a propulsion system. The present invention solves the efficiency problem by encapsulating reactive fluid in a membrane or encapsulating a fluid that is affected by an electro-magnetically reactive membrane. The use of the membrane eliminates the reliance on the electrical conductivity of the surrounding fluid and in turn the inefficiencies in trying to ionize the surrounding fluid. However, in view of the art considered at the time the present invention was made, it was not obvious to those of ordinary skill in the field of this invention how the shortcomings of the prior art could be overcome.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The long-standing but heretofore unfulfilled need for a more efficient and effective magnetohydrodynamics based fluid propulsion system is now met by a new, useful, and nonobvious invention.

The fluid propulsion system of the present invention includes a hollow main body comprised of a base structure, a bladder, and an enclosed fluid. A propulsion channel extends through the hollow main body and is configured to receive ambient fluid. Moreover, the enclosed fluid resides in a chamber established at least partially by the base structure and the bladder.

The base structure has a predetermined rigidity greater than the rigidity of the bladder. In some embodiments, the base structure is in the shape of a cylindrical tube. In some embodiments, the base structure includes two opposing plates spaced apart to create the propulsion channel.

The present invention further includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced field sources connected to a power source. Each field source can be independently energized via a power source to create a magnetic field or an electromagnetic field. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of field sources is comprised of a coil.

In some embodiments, each of the plurality of field sources resides within the base structure. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of field sources resides adjacent to an outer surface of the base structure. In some embodiments, the field sources are in mechanical communication with the bladder.

In some embodiments, the enclosed fluid is adapted to react to the magnetic field or the electromagnetic field created by an energized field source. In some embodiments, the enclosed fluid in the bladder is repelled by the magnetic field or the electromagnetic field of the energized field source. In some embodiments, the enclosed fluid in the bladder is attracted to the magnetic field or the electromagnetic field of the energized field source, thereby creating a bulge in the bladder proximate the energized field source.

The bladder is comprised of a flexible material thereby allowing a mass displacement of the enclosed fluid in response to the magnetic field or the electromagnetic field of the energized field source. In turn, the bladder alters a degree of occlusion of the propulsion channel. The plurality of field sources is configured to be sequentially energized to move a location of the mass displacement of the enclosed fluid in the bladder thereby displacing the ambient fluid in the propulsion channel.

Some embodiments further include reactive elements in mechanical communication with the bladder. The reactive elements are configured to reactively move in response to the magnetic field or the electromagnetic field of the energized field source.

In some embodiments, the enclosed fluid is non-reactive to the magnetic/EM fields. Rather, the bladder includes reactive elements adapted to react to the magnetic field or the electromagnetic field created by an energized field source. The flexible material of the bladder allows the bladder to react to movement of the reactive elements in response to the magnetic field or the electromagnetic field of the energized field source. Movement of the reactive elements of the bladder impacts a degree of occlusion of the propulsion channel and the plurality of field sources are adapted to be sequentially energized to move different reactive elements in the bladder thereby displacing the ambient fluid in the propulsion channel.

In some embodiments, the reactive elements in the bladder are repelled by the magnetic field or the electromagnetic field of the energized field source. In some embodiments, the reactive elements in the bladder are attracted to the magnetic field or the electromagnetic field of the energized field source.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present includes a fluid propulsion system configured to propel an ambient fluid through a propulsion channel. To do so, the present invention includes a hollow main body having a propulsion channel extending therethrough. The main body includes a base structure, a flexible bladder attached thereto, and a fluid (e.g., liquid, gas, or plasma) enclosed within the bladder. The present invention further includes a field source that produces an electromagnetic or magnetic field. The bladder and/or the enclosed fluid is configured to respond to the electromagnetic or magnetic field. As will be explained in greater detail below, the field source causes the bladder to propel the ambient fluid through the propulsion channel creating a reactionary force to propel the fluid propulsion system in the opposite direction.

The base structure can be a tube (seeFIGS.1-4), plates (seeFIGS.5-6), or other structures configured to create a propulsion channel through which ambient fluid can flow. In some embodiments, the base structure is a rigid or semirigid structure. In some embodiments, the base structure has a degree of rigidity greater than the bladder.

Referring toFIGS.1-4, an embodiment of propulsion system100includes base structure102having a cylindrical, tubular shape with propulsion channel101extending therethrough. Base structure102includes outer surface104and inner surface106shown inFIGS.2and3. A plurality of field sources in the form of electrical coils108resides adjacent to outer surface104and bladder110resides proximate to inner surface106.

The combination of end walls112, bladder110, and base structure102creates chamber114, which houses an enclosed fluid. This assembly is best depicted inFIGS.2and6, which include sectional cut away views to better depict chamber114. A shown inFIGS.4and6, some embodiments include the proximal and distal ends of bladder110secured at proximal and distal end walls111and112. In some embodiments, bladder110is secured at the innermost location of the end walls111and112. In some embodiments, bladder110is secured to base structure102in a manner to maintain/establish propulsion channel101. Thus, there is a propulsion channel101running through the assembly of the hollow rigid outer base structure102and attached bladder110when the system is in a non-reactive state (see e.g.,FIG.7). Propulsion channel101extends the length of the assembly to allow for the passage of ambient fluid.

FIGS.5-6illustrate an embodiment of the present invention having non-cylindrical base structures102aand102bto create channel101. It should be noted thatFIG.6includes a portion cutaway to reveal the internal workings of the system.

The depicted design includes base structures102aand102bin the form of parallel plates. However, some embodiments may include the plates converging towards each other near an aft end of propulsion channel101to increase the velocity of the ambient fluid as it exits propulsion channel101. Some embodiments may have non-parallel plates and/or plates having a non-linear profile moving along the longitudinal axis of the channel.

Each base structure102aand102bincludes bladder110aand110brespectively secured to end walls111aand112aand111band112b. Side walls116act as structural supports and as side walls for propulsion channel101extending between base plates102. Furthermore, field sources108aand108bare adjacent to their respective base plates102.

Some embodiments include only one bladder between base structures102. However, one or more field sources108can be used to control the movement of the enclosed fluid and bladder.

As shown, field sources108may reside adjacent or proximate to outer surface104of base structure(s)102. However, some embodiments include the field sources residing between outer surface104and inner surface106. The location of field sources108is dependent on the outward extent of the EM/magnetic fields produced by the field sources. The field sources must be sufficiently proximate to the bladder to ensure that the produced EM/magnetic fields can apply a sufficient force onto the bladder or enclosed fluid to overcome the viscosity of the enclosed fluid and the elastic force of the bladder.

The field sources can be comprised of electromagnetic or magnetic devices that produce an EM or magnetic field. In some embodiments, the EM field sources can be energized by the application of electrical current from a power source known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. In some embodiments, the filed sources are electrical coils, which produces an EM field when energized. In some embodiments, the field sources may be other mechanisms known to a person of ordinary skill in the art that are configured to produce magnetic or EM fields.

The present invention may include a plurality of longitudinally spaced (with respect to the longitudinal axis of the base structure) field sources configured to be energized in a longitudinally sequential manner. The power source can energize the plurality of field sources in rapid succession moving from one end of the base structure to the other and vice versa. In some embodiments, individual field sources could generate different field strengths and therefore different degrees of attraction/repulsion. In addition, the speed of the sequential energization of the array of field sources can be highly tailored. Moreover, to avoid cavitation, the sequential energization could start slowly and increase as the flow speed increases.

The spacing and operation of the field sources is sufficient to create a steady flow of the enclosed fluid from one end to the other end of the base structure. In some embodiments, the field sources are electrified similar to a propulsion system for a maglev train system. The field sources generate EM or magnetic fields that both pull the enclosed fluid and/or bladder forward from one end and push the enclosed fluid and/or bladder forward from the other end. In another embodiment, the field sources can be arranged in an array, similar to pixels on a television screen.

As best shown inFIG.7, enclosed fluid118resides within the space between bladder110and inner surface106of outer surface102. Bladder110is flexible and in some embodiments it is elastic. As a result, bladder110is adapted to extend inwardly in a radial direction towards the central longitudinal axis of propulsion channel101to at least partially occlude propulsion channel101as best depicted inFIGS.8-13. The manner in which the system is reactive to occlude propulsion channel101is described in greater detail below.

In some embodiments, bladder110is comprised of a plurality of segmented bladders or subsections of bladder110to ensure that the occlusion occurs in a controlled manner. In some embodiments, bladder110is configured to occlude at least 25% of propulsion channel101. In some embodiments, bladder110is configured to occlude at least 50% of propulsion channel101. In some embodiments, bladder110is configured to occlude at least 90% of propulsion channel101. In some embodiments, bladder110is configured to occlude roughly the entire cross-sectional area of propulsion channel101.

In some embodiments, bladder110is electro-mechanically non-reactive and enclosed fluid118within chamber114is electro-magnetically reactive. Enclosed fluid118can be comprised of any material or elements adapted to react to an EM or magnetic field, including but not limited to ionized fluids/materials, ferric slurries/material, permanent magnets (PMs), and all other magnetically and/or electrically reactive materials.

As exemplified inFIG.8, the activation one of the field sources (field source108′ inFIG.8) creates an EM/magnetic force, which causes a mass displacement in reactive fluid118in the local vicinity of energized field source108′. As shown, the EM/magnetic force attracts the reactive enclosed fluid118. This increases local pressure of reactive fluid118causing bulge120in flexible bladder110resulting in a constriction/occlusion of the cross-sectional area of propulsion channel101. This, in turn causes a displacement of the ambient fluid outside of bladder110. Energizing subsequent rows of field sources (seeFIG.9) causes bulge120to travel down propulsion channel101to the desired exit end of propulsion channel101. In turn, bulge120drives the ambient fluid outside of bladder110in the direction of the propagating bulge120. In the case of a propulsion application, base structure102will move in the opposite direction of the displaced ambient fluid. By repeatedly energizing the sequenced field sources, propulsion of a body through the ambient fluid can be attained.

In some embodiments, the field sources are configured to repel the reactive enclosed fluid. In such embodiments, two or more longitudinally spaced field sources can be energized to repel the reactive enclosed fluid towards a void between the EM fields residing between the two energized field sources. The enclosed fluid collects in this void creating a bulge. Successive energization of longitudinally spaced field sources can move the bulge to propel the ambient fluid in the propulsion channel.

In some embodiments, enclosed fluid118is non-reactive, and bladder110is reactive. Bladder110may be reactive through ferric material, PMs, electromagnets, or other materials reactive to EM/magnetic fields. The reactive elements in bladder110can be embedded or attached to bladder110. The activation of the EM force by one of the field sources in a row of field sources attracts or repels reactive bladder110in the local vicinity of the field source creating bulge120in bladder110. This similarly causes a displacement of the ambient fluid outside of bladder110. Energizing subsequent rows of field sources causes bulge120of bladder110to travel down propulsion channel101driving the ambient fluid outside of bladder110in the direction of the propagating bulge120. In the case of a propulsion application, base structure102will move in the opposite direction of the displaced ambient fluid.

In some embodiments, both enclosed fluid118and bladder110are reactive. Energizing the one or more field sources causes both enclosed fluid118and bladder110to create one or more bulges110. Additionally, the system could be implemented by having electromagnetically opposite polarity features on both the bladder and the base structure.

In some embodiments, the bladder is filled to a capacity in which a majority of the propulsion channel is occluded when the field sources are in a non-energized state. The field sources are configured to attract or repel the reactive enclosed fluid and/or reactive elements on the bladder to move the bladder towards the base structure thereby creating a void. The void creates a vacuum through volume displacement and in turn causes the ambient fluid to move in the direction of the void. Successive energization of field sources can move the void to propel the ambient fluid in the propulsion channel.

In some embodiments, by using any combination of the reactive and passive elements described above, actuation of one or more field sources could be used to develop highly complex mixing or fluid flow patterns. For example, multiple bulges can be created and driven towards each other to maximize turbulence within the propulsion channel.

By tailoring the material properties of the base structure, field sources, enclosed fluid and bladder, various fluid displacement effects could be achieved. For example, high velocity transfer of ambient fluid would be effectively achieved if the enclosed fluid were low viscosity or gaseous with a highly flexible bladder and a rigid base structure. Slower, more mechanically powerful displacements (for mixing materials) would be facilitated by higher viscosity enclosed fluids or ferric slurries.

To achieve a broad range of effects, current levels to the various rows of field sources can be adjusted to obtain specific reactions within the enclosed fluid. Moreover, increasing or decreasing the energy to the field sources shapes the deformation of the bladder and therefore the influence on the ambient fluid.

Some embodiments employ permeable or osmotic bladder materials to alter the chemical or ionic composition of either or both of the enclosed or ambient fluid.