Method and apparatus for controlling flow about a turret

摘要

Methods and apparatus are provided to control flow separation of an ambient flow along a surface and about a turret, such as by reducing flow separation aft of the turret. By reducing flow separation, the resulting turbulence may be similarly reduced such that the performance of a system, such as a laser system, housed by the turret may be improved. To reduce flow separation, a motive flow may be provided by ejector nozzles that open through the surface and are positioned proximate to and aft of the turret relative to the ambient flow. The motive flow has a greater velocity than the ambient flow to thereby create a region aft of the turret of reduced pressure relative to an ambient pressure. Within this region of reduced pressure aft of the turret, a portion of the ambient flow mixes with the motive flow, thereby reducing or eliminating flow separation.

主权项

1. An apparatus for controlling flow comprising:
a turret extending outwardly from a surface and into an ambient flow that propagates in a predefined flow direction relative to the surface and the turret; and a plurality of ejector nozzles opening through the surface and positioned aft of the turret relative to the ambient flow in a region that would experience flow separation due to the turret without the ejector nozzles, wherein the plurality of ejector nozzles are configured to introduce a motive flow having a greater velocity than the ambient flow to thereby create a mixing region aft of the turret of reduced pressure relative to an ambient pressure in which a portion of the ambient flow mixes with the motive flow, wherein each ejector nozzle comprises an inner nozzle through which motive gas is introduced and a throat surrounding the inner nozzle through which suction gas is introduced at a different pressure than the motive gas such that the motive gas and the suction gas combine to create the motive flow, and wherein the ejector nozzle including the throat and the inner nozzle extend to the surface and open into the mixing region aft of the turret.