Abstract: A rotating detonation combustor includes a nozzle coupled to the combustor body at or near the exhaust opening to choke the exhaust opening. A rotating detonation combustor may include a diverting plate positioned radially inward of the inlet annulus and inlet channels for diverting flow of a mixture in an axial direction. A rotating detonation combustor may include a combustor body including an outer shell at least partially defining a detonation combustion chamber and extending axially from a base toward an exhaust opening of the detonation combustion chamber. The base defines a passageway in fluid communication with the detonation combustion chamber and includes an inlet annulus for axially directing a second fluid into the passageway and a plurality of inlet channels for radially directing a third fluid into at least one of the passageway or the detonation combustion chamber, and the detonation combustion chamber is free of any inner body.

Abstract: A feedback providing facial mask is provided. The mask includes a facial adaptive component including a deformable member embedded in an interior region of the facial adaptive component and circuits, each of the circuits being operable in an open-circuit state or a closed-circuit state. The mask also includes a battery, light elements coupled to the battery and positioned within the deformable member, and sensors positioned at a plurality of locations within the deformable member. The sensors are connected to one of the light elements, wherein each of the circuits include the battery, one of the light elements, and at least one of the plurality of sensors, and wherein one or more of the circuits change from operating in the open-circuit state to the closed-circuit state in response o the one or more of the sensors contacting skin on an object that is external to the mask.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a combustor includes a nozzle coupled to the combustor body at or near the exhaust opening to choke the exhaust opening. In another embodiment, a combustor includes a diverting plate positioned radially inward of the inlet annulus and inlet channels for diverting flow of a mixture in an axial direction. In another embodiment, a combustor includes a combustor body including an outer shell at least partially defining a combustion chamber and extending axially from a hollow base toward an exhaust opening of the combustion chamber. The hollow base defines a passageway in fluid communication with the combustion chamber and includes an inlet annulus for axially directing a first fluid into the passageway and a plurality of inlet channels for radially directing a second fluid into at least one of the passageway or the combustion chamber, and the combustion chamber is free of any inner body.

Abstract: A rotary drill bit having one or more fluid nozzles is provided. Each nozzle may include interior surfaces designed to optimize hydraulic performance and efficiency of fluid flowing through the nozzle. The interior surfaces cooperate with each other to minimize turbulent fluid flow through the respective nozzle. Each nozzle may also include a discharge port or outlet with at least one Coanda surface operable to direct fluid flow in a direction which optimizes efficiency of transferring fluid energy to adjacent portions of a wellbore. The orientation of fluid flow from each nozzle may be directed to optimize cleaning of associated cutting structures and/or to minimize or prevent balling of formation cuttings.

Abstract: A rotary drill bit having one or more fluid nozzles is provided. Each nozzle may include interior surfaces designed to optimize hydraulic performance and efficiency of fluid flowing through the nozzle. The interior surfaces cooperate with each other to minimize turbulent fluid flow through the respective nozzle. Each nozzle may also include a discharge port or outlet with at least one Coanda surface operable to direct fluid flow in a direction which optimizes efficiency of transferring fluid energy to adjacent portions of a wellbore. The orientation of fluid flow from each nozzle may be directed to optimize cleaning of associated cutting structures and/or to minimize or prevent balling of formation cuttings.

Abstract: A rotary drill bit having one or more fluid nozzles is provided. Each nozzle may include interior surfaces designed to optimize hydraulic performance and efficiency of fluid flowing through the nozzle. The interior surfaces cooperate with each other to minimize turbulent fluid flow through the respective nozzle. Each nozzle may also include a discharge port or outlet with at least one Coanda surface operable to direct fluid flow in a direction which optimizes efficiency of transferring fluid energy to adjacent portions of a wellbore. The orientation of fluid flow from each nozzle may be directed to optimize cleaning of associated cutting structures and/or to minimize or prevent balling of formation cuttings.

Abstract: A rotary drill bit having one or more fluid nozzles is provided. Each nozzle may include interior surfaces designed to optimize hydraulic performance and efficiency of fluid flowing through the nozzle. The interior surfaces cooperate with each other to minimize turbulent fluid flow through the respective nozzle. Each nozzle may also include a discharge port or outlet with at least one Coanda surface operable to direct fluid flow in a direction which optimizes efficiency of transferring fluid energy to adjacent portions of a wellbore. The orientation of fluid flow from each nozzle may be directed to optimize cleaning of associated cutting structures and/or to minimize or prevent balling of formation cuttings.

Abstract: A rotary drill bit having one or more fluid nozzles is provided. Each nozzle may include interior surfaces designed to optimize hydraulic performance and efficiency of fluid flowing through the nozzle. The interior surfaces cooperate with each other to minimize turbulent fluid flow through the respective nozzle. Each nozzle may also include a discharge port or outlet with at least one Coanda surface operable to direct fluid flow in a direction which optimizes efficiency of transferring fluid energy to adjacent portions of a wellbore. The orientation of fluid flow from each nozzle may be directed to optimize cleaning of associated cutting structures and/or to minimize or prevent balling of formation cuttings.

Abstract: A device and method for improving the performance of a pulse detonation engine. The device includes at least one of an exhaust structure and an ejector. The exhaust structure can be configured as a straight, converging or diverging nozzle device, and connected to the engine to control the flow of a primary fluid produced during a detonation reaction. The ejector is fluidly coupled to the engine, using the movement of the primary fluid to promote entrainment of a secondary fluid that can be mixed with the primary fluid. The secondary fluid can be used to increase the mass flow of the primary fluid to increase thrust, as well as be used to cool engine components. Device positioning, sizing, shaping and integration with other engine operating parameters, such as fill fraction, choice of fuel and equivalence ratio, can be used to improve engine performance. In addition to thrust augmentation and enhanced cooling, the disclosed device can be used for engine noise reduction.

Abstract: A rotary drill bit having one or more fluid nozzles is provided. Each nozzle may include interior surfaces designed to optimize hydraulic performance and efficiency of fluid flowing through the nozzle. The interior surfaces cooperate with each other to minimize turbulent fluid flow through the respective nozzle. Each nozzle may also include a discharge port or outlet with at least one Coanda surface operable to direct fluid flow in a direction which optimizes efficiency of transferring fluid energy to adjacent portions of a wellbore. The orientation of fluid flow from each nozzle may be directed to optimize cleaning of associated cutting structures and/or to minimize or prevent balling of formation cuttings.

Abstract: In a method for the control of thermoacoustic instabilities or oscillations in a combustion system (15), pressure oscillations and/or heat release oscillations in the combustion system (15), which are linked to the thermoacoustic instabilities, are measured, the resulting measurement signal is filtered, time-delayed and amplified, and, according to the filtered, delayed and amplified measurement signal, the fuel stream to or the combustion air for the combustion system (15) is modulated. In such a method, the use of more cost-effective modulation devices is achieved in that modulation takes place at a subharmonic of a dominant instability frequency in the combustion system (15).

Abstract: An apparatus and method of creating a high combustion rate in a combustor used to burn combustible matter. The combustor comprising a cylindrical combustion chamber extending vertically with at least one side loading bin for loading combustible matter into the combustion chamber while combustion is ongoing. The combustor creates a high combustion rate by inducing an acoustic excitation and an ascending vortex in hot gases that is reflected by a conical surface, converting the ascending vortex to a descending vortex. The shear between the ascending and descending vortices increases mixing. The descending vortex acts to separate the small, fully-combusted particles from larger particles that are thrown by centrifugal force back into the combustion zone.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of creating a high combustion rate in a combustor used to burn combustible matter. The combustor comprising a cylindrical combustion chamber extending vertically with at least one side loading bin for loading combustible matter into the combustion chamber while combustion is ongoing. The combustor creates a high combustion rate by inducing an acoustic excitation and an ascending vortex in hot gases that is reflected by a conical surface, converting the ascending vortex to a descending vortex. The shear between the ascending and descending vortices increases mixing. The descending vortex acts to separate the small, fully-combusted particles from larger particles that are thrown by centrifugal force back into the combustion zone.

Abstract: Vortical lift over a highly swept wing can be controlled by stabilizing or strengthening the major vortex by a small continuous jet of air, or a pulsating jet, near the core of the vortex. This method relies on the natural inductive action of the vortex swirling flow to entrain the injected air into the core of the vortex. When the additional momentum from the blowing air becomes aligned with the vortex mean flow direction, the vortex is stabilized and vortex breakdown is delayed.