Patent Abstract:
Skin friction reduction on a surface moving relative to a fluid can be obtained by ejecting a polymer—water mixture/solution into the boundary layer. The efficacy of the ejected polymer—water mixture/solution is closely related to polymer dissipation out of the boundary layer and conditioning (i..e, lengthening, unwinding or stretching) of the polymer molecules by liquid shear forces immediately before ejection. The invention is a method for conditioning and ejecting a polymer—water mixture/solution that improves drag reduction characteristics of the mixture/solution and maintains the mixture/solution in the boundary layer for as long as possible. By improving the drag-reduction characteristics of the drag reducing substance mixture/solution and by extending the time it remains in the near-wall region, the ejector can increase the performance and reduce the volume and storage requirements of a drag-reduction system. The drag reducing substance may be formed of a mixture/aqueous solution of high molecular weight polymer, surfactant, gas microbubbles, or any combination thereof.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation-in-part application of allowed application U.S. Ser. No. 09/635,361 filed Aug. 11, 200, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,305,399, which itself was a continuation application of U.S. Ser. No. 09/223,783 filed Dec. 31, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,138,704, the benefit of priority to which are hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C. §120. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     Injection of high molecular weight materials such as polymers into the boundary layer of a fluid flow has been shown to reduce skin friction drag significantly for both vessels moving relative to water and for pipeline applications. The large polymer molecules interact with the turbulent activity in the near-wall region, absorbing energy and reducing the frequency of burst (high energy fluid moving away from the wall) and sweep (low energy fluid replacing the high energy fluid in the near-wall region) cycles. The reduced burst frequency results in less energy dissipation from the wall and can result in skin friction drag reductions up to 80%. Experiments have shown that the efficacy of polymer molecules for drag reduction is closely related to their molecular weight, their location in the boundary layer, and the degree to which they have been stretched, or “conditioned”. 
     In the past, polymer mixture ejectors have been simple slots that ejected a mixture/solution of polymer and a fluid at an angle to the wall. To attain high drag reduction for a reasonable distance downstream with this ejection approach, large quantities and high concentrations of polymers must be ejected in order to flood the entire boundary area, creating a “polymer ocean” effect. The high polymer consumption rates of these systems have made them impractical for many drag reduction applications. 
     Fluids containing other substances than high molecular weight materials, e.g. microbubbles, surfactant, etc., have also been used as additives in prior art attempts to reduce surface friction drag. These, however, each require very large amounts of additive. 
     To be useful for practical applications, a more efficient method for ejecting for drag reduction needs to be devised. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention enables the efficient ejection of fluid mixtures/solutions into the near-wall region of a boundary layer of a fluid flow. The ejector of the present invention has, as a first object of the invention, to condition the polymer prior to ejection so that drag reduction occurs almost immediately following ejection. A second object of the invention is to release a drag reducing substance only into the boundary layer region, where it can provide the greatest drag reduction. A third object of the invention is to retain the drag reducing substance in the near-wall region of the boundary layer, the most effective region for drag reduction, as long as possible. The drag reducing substance may comprise a mixture/aqueous solution of high molecular weight polymer, surfactant, gas microbubbles, or any combination thereof. 
     The ejector system of the present invention preconditions a polymer mixture/solution for improved drag reduction performance using a unique arrangement of flow area restrictions, as well as by employing dimples, grooves and elastomeric materials. The dimples, grooves and flow area restrictions are sized relative to one another and to the Reynolds number of the flow for optimal polymer molecule conditioning (lengthening, unwinding, or stretching) so as to provide optimal drag reduction after ejection into the fluid flow. In addition, the ejector of the present invention uses a new approach to structuring the flow in order to reduce migration/dissipation of the drag reducing substance away from the near-wall region. This is achieved by a unique system of slots, each having a carefully designed surface curvature and surface features which establish a duct-like system of longitudinal (i.e., in the direction of the flow) Görtler vortices. Görtler vortices are formed by the centrifugal effect of a fluid flow that is given angular velocity by a concave surface. The duct-like system of Görtler vortices formed by the present invention mimic the spacing of naturally occurring quasi-longitudinal vortex pairs in the boundary layer, but are paired in the opposite orientation. The pairing of naturally occurring quasi-longitudinal vortex pairs is such that they migrate from the wall and are believed to contribute to the development of bursts and sweeps that account for a large portion of hydrodynamic drag. The vortices created by the present invention pair, such that the pressure differentials they create cause the vortices to remain near the wall. This advantageously causes the drag reducing substance that has been ejected into the boundary layer to remain in the near-wall region. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given below and the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of illustration only and thus are not limitative of the present invention, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 depicts Görtler vortices forming due to centrifugal forces caused by drag on a concave surface, 
     FIG.  2 ( a ) illustrates, in isometric view, naturally generated quasi-longitudinal vortex pairs, 
     FIG.  2 ( b ) is a cross-sectional view of naturally occurring vortex pairs, 
     FIG.  2 ( c ) is a cross-sectional view of longitudinal Görtler vortex pairs formed by the vortex duct ejector of the present invention, 
     FIG. 3 depicts a side view of the vortex ejector of the invention, with the lower portion thereof being a cross-sectional view which shows the inner components of the vortex duct ejector, 
     FIG. 4 illustrates, in cross-sectional view, a cone component of the ejector shown in FIG. 3, 
     FIG. 5 illustrates, in cross-sectional view, a diffuser component of the ejector shown in FIG. 3, and 
     FIG. 6 illustrates, in cross-sectional view, a portion of an ejector ring. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention achieves more effective drag reducing substance mixture/solution ejection by releasing a drag reducing substance mixture/solution into the near-wall region of the boundary layer and by adjusting the mixture/solution flow characteristics so that the mixture/solution remains in the near-wall region. By producing a mixture/solution with flow characteristics that adhere it to the wall, the ejector extends the drag reducing substance residence time in the near-wall region before it is diffused into the surrounding water, and thus reduces additive consumption of a drag reduction system. 
     Görtler vortices are formed by the centrifugal effect of a fluid flow that is given angular velocity by a concave surface. FIG. 1 depicts naturally occurring Görtler vortices  1  forming due to centrifugal forces caused by drag on a concave surface  2 . The surface features of the ejector of the present invention create Görtler vortices that mimic the spacing of the naturally occurring quasi-longitudinal vortex pairs in the boundary layer, but they are paired in the opposite orientation. The pairing of natural quasi-longitudinal vortex pairs is such that they migrate from the wall and are believed to contribute to the development of bursts and sweeps that account for a large portion of hydrodynamic drag. 
     FIG.  2 ( a ) depicts an isometric view of quasi-longitudinal vortex pairs. It is generally accepted that flow over a stationary surface creates transverse structures which become distorted into hairpin-shaped vortices  3  near the wall. The quasi-streamwise “legs” of each hairpin-shaped vortex produces a pressure differential normal to the wall that makes the vortex pair migrate away from the surface. FIG.  2 ( b ) is a transverse cross-sectional schematic of a vortex pair inducing a pressure differential that will move it away from the wall. The “H” represents a local higher pressure region, and the “L” represents a local lower pressure region. In contrast to these naturally occurring vortex pairs, the Görtler vortex pairs generated by the ejector of the present invention are paired and spaced so that the pressure differential they create causes them to hug a downstream, oppositely oriented wall surface, FIG.  2 ( c ) is a cross-sectional view of a vortex pair which creates a pressure differential that drives the vortex pair in a direction towards the downstream, oppositely oriented, wall, thereby causing the vortex pair to hug the downstream, oppositely oriented, wall. Because the vortices of such a pair remain near the downstream, oppositely oriented, wall, they maintain the additive that has been ejected by the ejector in the near-wall region, thereby reducing the occurrence of bursts and sweeps. Hereinafter, the ejector of the present invention will be called a “vortex duct” ejector because of its innovative use of vortex structures to control polymer mixture/solution dissipation. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates the vortex duct ejector of the present invention. Additive mixture/solution  9  flows into the ejector from the left, moving toward slot  1 . In this embodiment, the boundary layer to be injected with additive mixture/solution envelops the vortex duct ejector and the flow is from right to left, just as if the ejector were on a body moving to the right in a stationary medium. Additive mixture/solution is ejected from the slots II, III, and IV into the boundary layer of the ejector body. Optimal solution concentrations and volume flow rates are determined as required for each application. 
     Additive mixture/solution flowing into the ejector from the left is directed toward slot I by diffuser  10  and cone  12 . interaction between one or more vanes (not labeled) attached to the framework  14  reduces the irregularity of the flow. As the flow passes through slot I, dimples in cone  12  and longitudinal slots in diffuser  10  create quasi-longitudinal vortices. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the cone  12 , illustrating the dimples  15  in cone  12 . FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the diffuser  10 , illustrating the longitudinal slots  17  in diffuser  10 . Interaction of vortices created by the dimples  15  and slots  17  promotes further mixing and stretching of the polymer molecules in the mixture/solution. The width of slot I can be adjusted, or varied, by sliding the central tube  18  with attached cone  12  longitudinally. The materials and features of the diffuser  10  and cone  12  can also be changed or modified to alter the vertical structures. The throttled and conditioned flow then passes out of slot I and through a system of passageways in framework  20 . The size of the passageways in framework  20  governs the shape of the dimples on cone  12  according to Condition (1): 
     
       
         0.25  d   passageways20   ≦d   dimples12 ≦0.5 d   passageways20   Condition (1) 
       
     
     where d passageways20  is the diameter of the passageways in framework  20  and d dimples12  is the diameter of the dimples in cone  12 . The depth (h) of the dimples is given by Equation (1): 
     
       
           h   dimples12 =0.25 d   dimples12   Equation (1) 
       
     
     where h dimples12  is the depth of the dimples in cone  12 , and d dimples12  is as defined above. In addition, the grooves in diffuser  10  are defined by Equations (2) and (3): 
     
       
           B   grooves10   =d   dimples12   Equation (2) 
       
     
     
       
           W   grooves10   =h   grooves10 =0.25 d   dimples12   Equation (3) 
       
     
     where 
     B grooves10  is the center-to-center distance between the grooves in the diffuser  10 , 
     W grooves10  is the width of each groove in diffuser  10 , and 
     h grooves10  is the depth of each groove in diffuser  10 . 
     Vortex formation can be enhanced by fabricating the cone ( 12 ) from an elastomeric material with characteristics that satisfy the equation 
     
       
         ( E/ρ ) ½ =0.5 U   ∞   Equation (4) 
       
     
     where E is the modulus of elasticity, ρ is the density, and U ∞  is the velocity of the exterior flow. For additional vortex enhancement, one may use anisotropic elastomeric material characterized as follows 
     
       
         2 ≦E   long   /E   xverse ≦5  Condition (2) 
       
     
     where E long  is the longitudinal modulus of elasticity and E xverse  is the transverse modulus of elasticity. 
     The system of passageways in framework  20  can be divided into four groups. The first group  22  passes solution in the longitudinal direction through a second set of passageways  24  in the fairing  26  having a diameter one-half that of the dimples in cone  12  and out into the flow path through slot II. Slot II is a laminar region ejector, and it is intended to thicken and condition the boundary layer upstream of the slots III and IV. The concave shape of the forward surface of the slot formed by stopper  28  creates longitudinal Gortler vortices, and the shape formed by fairing  26  (FIG. 3) provides a convex Coanda surface. The surfaces of slot II are parallel at the aperture. As the flow from slot II enters the boundary layer, it is characterized by longitudinal Görtler vortex structures immediately adjacent an attached flow coming off the downstream convex Coanda surface. These longitudinal Görtler vortices condition the flow upstream of slot III. Slot II&#39;s contribution to thickening and conditioning the boundary layer reduces disturbances caused by the ejected flow at slots III and IV. 
     Another group of passageways  30  passes the mixture/solution obliquely through the framework  20 , the fairing  26 , and rings  32 ,  34 ,  36  and  38  to exit from slot III. The curvature of the upstream surface of slot III is concave in order to produce a system of longitudinal Görtler vortices, and these vortices are then amplified by dimples on an elastic downstream surface of ejector ring  32 . FIG. 6 illustrates, in cross-sectional view, a portion of such an ejector ring  32 . The dimensions and pitch of the dimples in ring  32  are given by: 
     
       
         λ dimples32   =d   dimples32 =((7.19×10 5 )/ Re   x )+(3.56×10 −5 )( Re   x )+1.71  Equation (5) 
       
     
     and 
     
       
           h   dimples32 ≦0.5 d   dimples32   Equation (6) 
       
     
     where λ dimples32 , d dimples32  and h dimples32  are the pitch, diameter and depth, respectively, in wall units y+, of the dimples in ring  32 , and Re x  is the Reynolds number of the water flow immediately downstream of slot IV. As is well known in the art, wall units are a non-dimensional measurement of distance from a wall. They can be expressed as a length dimension using the following equation: 
     
       
           y =(( y +)( v ))/ u*   Equation (7) 
       
     
     where y is a dimensioned length, v is the kinematic viscosity of the fluid and u* is the friction velocity of the fluid. 
     Fabricating ring  32  from elastomeric material can further enhance the Görtler vortices forming in slot III. If an elastic material is chosen, its characteristics should satisfy Equation (4), above. For additional enhancement effects, one may use anisotropic elastomeric material characterized by Condition (2), above. 
     When ring  32  is located in a more upstream position than that illustrated in FIG. 3, such that its transverse groove is located beneath the edge of ring  36 , the transverse groove  40  creates a stationary transverse vortex within transverse groove  40 . The low pressure created by this transverse vortex draws the flow ejected from slot III, including the longitudinal Gbrtler vortices, against the wall and stabilizes the flow ejected from slot Ill. When ring  32  is located farther from ring  36 , the transverse groove generates a series of transverse vortex rings, which escape and migrate downstream with the flow. The frequency at which these transverse vortices are released can be controlled by periodic motion of rings  32  and  34  (i.e., by oscillating central rod  48  which indirectly supports ring  34  via frame  14 ), or by changing the elastic characteristics of the ring  32  material. The dimensions of the transverse groove are given by: 
     
       
           w   xverse40   =h   xverse40 =0.5 d   dimples32   Equation (8) 
       
     
     where w xverse40  is the width and h xverse40  is the depth, respectively, of the transverse groove  40 . 
     The last group of passageways  42  in framework  20  passes the additive mixture/solution obliquely into the space between adjustable rings  32 ,  34 ,  44  and  46  and out into the flow stream through slot IV. As with slot III, the curvature of the upstream surface of slot IV creates a system of longitudinal Görtler vortices that are amplified by the dimples in rings  44  and  46 . These Görtler vortices interact with the vortices coming from slot III to form longitudinal waveguides that act to retain the polymer solution near the wall. The dimensions and spacing of the dimples in rings  44  and  46  are governed by the same equations as the dimples in rings  32  and  34 . 
     The width of slots I, III and IV can be either adjusted or oscillated by sliding cone  12  and/or the rings  32  and  34  longitudinally. Cone  12  is articulated on the end of tube  18 , and rings  32  and  34  are articulated by the central rod  48  via fasteners to frame  14 . By adjusting the slot widths, one can vary the ejection velocity of the additive mixture/solution. The most effective drag reduction usually occurs when the ejection velocity is in a range between 5% and 10% of the free stream velocity. The ejector body  50  and slot widths should be adjusted to provide an additive mixture/solution flow velocity in this range for the desired mixture/solution flow rate. An entirely different slot structure can be achieved by removing rings  32  and  34  and replacing rings  44  and  46  with rings featuring longitudinal slots as detailed by pointer  52 . The longitudinal slots are positioned at an approximate multiple of the spacing of the naturally occurring quasi-longitudinal vortex pairs and create high-powered longitudinal vortices. 
     Of course, the ejector of this invention is not to be limited to the embodiment specifically illustrated. Indeed, numerous variations of the ducted vortex ejector are possible. For example, rings  32 ,  34 ,  44  and  46  may be replaced with rings having different material and structural characteristics. Rather, the scope of the invention shall be defined as set forth in the following claims and their legal equivalents. Various modifications will occur to those skilled in the art as a result of reading the above description, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art are intended to be within the spirit of the invention disclosed.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5