Apparatus and method for passive purging of micro-perforated aerodynamic surfaces

摘要

A purging system for a laminar flow control system comprises an air scoop and a diffuser fluidly connected thereto. The air scoop is disposable into an external flow of an external atmosphere. The diffuser is configured to fluidly connect the air scoop to a suction cavity of the laminar flow control system wherein the suction cavity may be disposed adjacent a porous skin of an airfoil such as adjacent a leading edge of the airfoil. The laminar flow control system may be configured to suction boundary layer flow passing over the porous skin by drawing a portion of the boundary layer flow through a plurality of pores formed in the porous skin. The diffuser ducts high pressure flow captured by the air scoop to the suction cavity for discharge through the pores to reduce the potential of blockage thereof.