Recesses on a surface

Formations on the surface of bodies for reducing the drag relative to a medium which the body is located in or close to. The formations comprise a plurality of cavities (1,20,40,60). The surface in which the cavities are formed is closed. The cavity has a disruption edge (5,25,44,66) adjacent to the cavity, with the disruption edge located upstream of the cavity, so as to set the flowing medium most proximal to the surface into turbulence upon passing the disruption edge. The cavity has a maximum depth from the surface of at least approximately 2 mm.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention regards formations on the surface of bodies for reducing drag relative to a medium which the body is located in or close to, in accordance with the preamble of the accompanying Claim1. In particular, the invention regards formations that reduce the water and/or air drag of a vessel, especially a ship. However the invention may also be applied to the inside of a pipe carrying gas and/or liquid, e.g. in a ventilation system, liquid conveyors such as conveyors for hydrocarbons, downpipes to hydroelectric power plants or in connection with wave power stations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

From nature there is known a number of animals having surface formations that reduce the flow resistance. Birds have feathers that create a rough surface, and fish, sharks and rays have scales. Common to these surface formations is the fact that they break the laminar air or water flows along the surface of the body, creating small areas of turbulence. The laminar flows give a high flow resistance, as the velocity of the flow medium relative to the body is approximately equal to zero near the surface. Thus a thin layer of the flow medium forms near the surface, exerting drag on the body. A rough surface will break up this layer and create small turbulent currents. Thus the flow resistance is reduced substantially.

Several surface formations are known which make use of this effect.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,184,185 shows formations on the upper side of aeroplane wings. Holes have been punched in the surface. The punched part of the hole projects like a tongue at an angle relative to the surface. Due to the shape of the holes, air will be drawn out through these from the inside of the wing. This airflow creates an upward force, which imparts lift.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,451,645 describes a device similar to the foregoing. Here, curved lamellas are arranged on the upper side of the wing. A slot is formed between each of the lamellas. Air flows out through this slot from the inside of the wing, and then along the curve of the lamella.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,753,401 describes elements mounted on the surface of a body. Each element has openings8, above which are disposed ribs4with shallow grooves5between the ribs. Several elements are placed one after the other, so that the openings and ribs are in line. Between every element is formed a slit9that communicates with a passage6B across the passage6A formed by the openings8. When a low pressure fluid flows past, fluid will be drawn out from passages6A and6B. When a high pressure fluid flows past, fluid will flow into passages6A and6B. This should then result in a reduced flow resistance.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,386,955 describes a surface with protrusions in the form of generally triangular ribs. Some relatively large ribs are formed, and a larger number of smaller ribs are formed between these. One embodiment includes triangular ribs with an increasing cross-section in the direction of flow.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,476,056 describes various formations on the surface of a ship's hull. In some embodiments, these are undulating projections. In other embodiments, they are more irregular projections. Air is introduced to the surface in order to form a layer of air.

Even though some of the known surface formations have a certain effect when it comes to reducing flow resistance, they are still encumbered by a number of disadvantages. The devices according to U.S. Pat. No. 3,184,185 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,451,645 are dependent on there being a cavity inside the surface, from which air may flow. U.S. Pat. No. 5,386,955 describes the provision of very small, generally triangular ribs with a height of the order of 70 μm, which in some embodiments are disposed across the direction of flow and in other embodiments along the direction of flow. Although some turbulence is created at these ribs, this turbulence will have a limited effect due to the size of the ribs. These ribs are only suitable at very high velocities, around Mach 0.5. At lower velocities such as those found for ships and fast-moving boats, these ribs will have little or no effect. Moreover, the ribs will be completely covered by the antifouling applied to the hull, thus reducing the effect to nil.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,476,056 prescribes the introduction of air to the hull surface. This requires the installation of costly pumping equipment and energy in order to run.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,753,401 is probably the best design of the above, but is far from ideal, and in addition it is highly complex in manufacture.

In addition, surface formations for turbine blades are known from GB 2 068 502. These are either in the shape of hairs or raised parts. The raised parts are in the shape of half cones resting on the surface.

Furthermore, surface formations are known from DE 3 534 268 in the shape of thin blades projecting from the surface or in the shape of tapering triangles with an increasing height in the direction of flow.

The disadvantage of having formations in the shape of raised parts is first of all that they are easily damaged by external influences. Moreover, it has been found that they do not have as good an effect as cavities of a complementary shape.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to overcome the above disadvantages, and further to optimise the effect, both with regard to efficiency, economy, fabricatability and maintenance. It is also an aim to provide surface formations that are suited for use at low and moderate velocities such as those found for ships, fast-moving boats, hydroelectric pipes, but also for passenger planes at moderate velocities. This is achieved by the characteristics that according to the present invention are given in the characterising part of Claim1.

Preferred embodiments are given in the dependent claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1 and 2show surface formations in perspective and as a section along the direction of flow, respectively. The surface formations1are cavities formed on a surface3, which may be the surface of a ship's hull. Each surface formation1has an inclined bottom surface2that extends down from the surface3at an angle, from a downstream edge4situated in the plane of the surface3to an upstream disruption edge5situated at a distance below the surface3. This distance is at least 1 mm, preferably 5-15 mm, but may also be as much as 25 mm, depending on the velocity of flow past the surface formation1. The length of the bottom surface2is preferably 15-60 mm or more, but it may also lie outside this range, depending on the velocity of flow past the surface formation1.

Edges6and7extend between the downstream edge4and the upstream disruption edge5. They converge from the downstream edge4towards the upstream disruption edge5, making the bottom surface2wider at the upstream end than at the downstream end. Side walls9exist between the edges6and7, respectively, and the surface3. The disruption edge5and the edges6and7all act as disruption edges to the medium flowing past the surface formation1.

From the upstream disruption edge5there also extends an end wall8down from the surface3. The end wall8is curved, so as to give a horizontal section of the surface formation1the general shape of a piece of pie. However the end wall8may also be straight, so as to give the surface formation the shape of a truncated triangle.

The arrow10indicates the direction of fluid flow past the surface formation1, which may be disposed e.g. below the waterline on the surface of a ship. The water flows over the disruption edge5and also over the edges6,7. Here, the laminar flow is broken up, and the adherence of the water to the surface3is reduced considerably.

FIG. 3shows surface formations20generally shaped in the same manner as the surface formation1ofFIG. 1, but here the edges diverge instead of converge. Thus the surface formations20comprise a bottom surface22that extends at an angle into the surface from a downstream edge24to an upstream edge25. Edges26and27extend between the downstream edge24and the upstream edge25. There are side walls29between the edges and the surface.

These edges diverge from the upstream edge towards the downstream edge, so that the bottom is wider at the downstream end than at the upstream end.

An end wall28extends from the upstream edge25and down from the surface3. The end wall28is curved, so as to give a horizontal section of the surface formation20the general shape of a piece of pie. However the end wall28may also be straight, giving the surface formation the shape of a truncated triangle. Sectioned vertically, the surface formation20has the same shape as the surface formation1.

InFIG. 3, the arrow30indicates the direction of flow past the surface formations20. If the surface formations20are arranged e.g. on a ship's hull, the laminar water flow will be broken up at the upstream edge25, which acts as a disruption edge, creating a turbulent swirl31across and partly down into the cavity formed by the surface formation20.

The greatest depth of this cavity is at least 1 mm, preferably 5-15 mm, but may also be as much as 15 mm, depending on the velocity of flow past the surface formation20. The length of the bottom surface22is preferably 15-60 mm or more, but may also lie outwith this range, depending on the velocity of flow past the surface formation20.

The surface formation20ofFIG. 3is best suited for flow velocities of more than approximately 40 knots.

FIGS. 4 and 5show a surface formation40generally shaped as a guttiform cavity41. The widest end42of the guttiform cavity41has the general shape of a sector of a sphere and faces downstream while the narrowest end43has the general shape of a sector of a cone with its pointed end facing upstream. At the wide end, an edge44is formed against the surface3. This edge acts as a disruption edge for the flow along the surface3. The flowing medium flows in the direction of arrow50, breaking up into a turbulent swirl at the edge44. The greatest depth of the cavity41is at least 1 mm, preferably 5-15 mm, but may also be as much as 25 mm or more, depending on the velocity of flow past the surface formation40. The length of the cavity in the direction of flow preferably lies in the range 15-60 mm.

Instead of tapering in the downstream direction, this surface cavity may also widen in the downstream direction, as shown in the embodiment of FIG.3.

FIG. 6shows a further surface formation. This is best suited for lower velocities of less than approximately15knots. The surface formation60is formed by a screen shaped wall61. The wall61may be part e.g. of a truncated cone or part of a cylinder wall in a diagonal cylinder. Thus the wall61exhibits a convex shape upstream and a concave cavity62downstream. A top edge66and two side edges67and68are formed along the wall61. These edges act as disruption edges for the flow medium.

Preferably, the wall61is produced by punching it from a plate64, thereby creating a hole65. The plate64may then be fixed to the surface3, so that the surface3closes the hole65. The fixing agents may be glue, rivets, screws, welding etc., all depending on the materials of the plate64and the surface3. The flow medium flows in the direction of arrow70. When the flow medium, e.g. water, impinges on the wall61, it will be deflected to either side of and up along the screen-shaped wall61. When the water flows past side edges67,68and top edge66, which act as disruption edges, a turbulent swirl71,72and73is created. In this manner, the laminar flow along the surface3is broken.

The height of the surface formation60is at least 1 mm, preferably 5-15 mm, but may also be as much as 25 mm or more, depending on the velocity of flow past the surface formation. The length of the surface formation in the direction of flow preferably lies in the range 15-60 mm.

As can be seen fromFIGS. 1,3,4and6, the surface formations have been arranged in a slightly staggered manner, preferably in rows, so that the surface formations in one row are positioned between the surface formations in the adjacent row.

As mentioned by way of introduction, the present invention may also be applied to the inside of pipes, both for existing pipe trenches or similar. In e.g. ventilating chimneys, strips with the described surface formations may be taped in place. Here, the strips may be made from e.g. plastic. In new pipes carrying liquid, similar surface formations may be installed in the form of a ring at the flow end of the pipe, so as to provide a turbulence ring at each pipe joint. The closer these rings are, the higher the velocity of flow. The material, e.g. the plastic, must be rigid enough to break the laminar layer. If the material of these turbulence rings is too soft, the effect will disappear.

The surface formations may also be used at the entering edge of aeroplane wings or windmill blades.