Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties Inc

Applied University Research, Inc.

K Todd Lowe

Roger Lyndon Simpson

Quinn Q Tian

Walter F O'Brien, Jr

Raul Otero, Jr

Dustin J Frohnapfel

Wing F Ng

Various examples are provided related to improvements in generalized flow profile production. In one example, a method includes determining a downstream flow profile including a pressure profile and a velocity profile; fabricating a pressure profile generator including distortion screen(s) disposed on a backing structure; fabricating a velocity profile generator including turning vanes in a flow path through the velocity profile generator that are configured to generate the velocity profile; attaching the pressure profile generator to an input side of the velocity profile generator; and installing the flow conditioning device in the flow field of interest. Flow through the flow conditioning device produces the downstream flow profile in the flow field of interest. In another example, a flow conditioning device includes a pressure profile generator with distortion screen(s) disposed on a backing structure; and a velocity profile generator with turning vanes attached to an input side of the velocity profile generator.

Generalized flow profile production

A system and method of non-intrusive anemometry. The system comprises an acoustic transmitter disposed at a boundary of fluid flow and first and second acoustic receivers adapted to receive transmissions from the acoustic transmitter. A processor is coupled to the acoustic receivers to determine the time of arrival of the transmission at the acoustic receivers. The acoustic transmitter and acoustic receivers are arranged such that the acoustic transmitter is upstream from the first acoustic receiver which is in turn upstream from the second acoustic transmitter.

System and method of non-intrusive anemometry

An asymmetric tetrahedral vortex generator that provides for control of three-dimensional flow separation over an underlying surface by bringing high momentum outer region flow to the wall of the structure using the generated vortex. The energized near-wall flow remains attached to the structure surface significantly further downstream. The device produces a swirling flow with one stream-wise rotation direction which migrates span-wise. When optimized, the device produces very low base drag on structures by keeping flow attached on the leeside surface thereof. This device can: on hydraulic structures, prevent local scour, deflect debris, and reduce drag; improve heat transfer between a flow and an adjacent surface, i.e., heat exchanger or an air conditioner; reduce drag, flow separation, and associated acoustic noise on airfoils, hydrofoils, cars, boats, submarines, rotors, etc. during subsonic or supersonic conditions; and, reduce radar signatures by using faceted edges with angles amenable to stealth technologies.

Low drag asymmetric tetrahedral vortex generators

Disclosed is a manufactured three-dimensional convex-concave fairing with attached vortex generators, for hydraulic structures such as bridge piers and abutments, whose shape prevents the local scour problem around such hydraulic structures. The device is a conventionally made concrete or fiber-reinforced composite, or combination of both, vortex generator equipped hydrodynamic fairing that is fit or cast over an existing or new hydraulic structure around the base of the structure and above the footing. The vortex generators are positioned so as to energize decelerating near wall flow with higher-momentum outer layer flow. The result is a more steady, compact separation and wake and substantially mitigated scour inducing vortical flow.

Growing community of inventors

Blacksburg, VA, United States of America

K Todd Lowe