Abstract: A vortex ring is used to produce a flow of fluid through a flexible tube, to remove surface deposits from a surface, and to transfer heat from a platen to a ring vortex. In pumping a fluid through a flexible conduit or tube, a vortex ring is launched along the tube so that the vortex ring encircles the tube. The vortex ring compresses and expands the flexible tube utilizing a high circumferential pressure formed at the bow of the vortex ring and a low pressure at the wake of the vortex ring. In removing deposits from a surface, a vortex ring launched along the surface mechanically abrades the surface and fractures the adhesion bonds of the surface deposits. In transferring heat from a heated surface to a vortex ring, the vortex ring removes the heat from the surface of the heated platen by forced convection.

Abstract: Several methods are presented for extracting useful work from a ring-vortex moving at high angular and axial velocities. The key components are a ring-vortex generator or launcher, a platen that penetrates the ring-vortex centroid along the axis of revolution, and a collector. Typical applications that utilize different parameters of a ring-vortex include a pump, filter, and heat exchanger.