대표
청구항
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1. An apparatus, comprising: a plurality of blades;a casing, wherein:(i) a fluid flowing from a high pressure side of the plurality of blades to a low pressure side of the plurality of blades in a direction of flow is incident on the plurality of blades and causes the plurality of blades to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the apparatus, or(ii) a fluid is caused to flow from a low pressure side of the plurality of blades to a high pressure side of the plurality of blades in a direction of flow when the plurality of blades is rotated about the longitud...
1. An apparatus, comprising: a plurality of blades;a casing, wherein:(i) a fluid flowing from a high pressure side of the plurality of blades to a low pressure side of the plurality of blades in a direction of flow is incident on the plurality of blades and causes the plurality of blades to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the apparatus, or(ii) a fluid is caused to flow from a low pressure side of the plurality of blades to a high pressure side of the plurality of blades in a direction of flow when the plurality of blades is rotated about the longitudinal axis of the apparatus,wherein when the plurality of blades rotates about the longitudinal axis of the apparatus the plurality of blades moves relative to the casing such that there is a gap between each blade of the plurality of blades and the casing and a leakage flow of the fluid flows in the gap in a leakage flow direction,wherein the leakage flow direction is from the high pressure side of the plurality of blades to the low pressure side of the plurality of blades;a voltage source; andat least one electrode pair,wherein the at least one electrode pair comprises a corresponding at least one blade electrode and a corresponding at least one casing electrode,wherein the at least one blade electrode is on a first blade of the plurality of blades and the at least one casing electrode is on the casing,wherein each casing electrode of the at least one casing electrode is offset in the leakage flow direction or offset in a direction opposite to the leakage flow direction from the corresponding blade electrode of the at least one blade electrode,wherein the voltage source applies a corresponding at least one voltage across the at least one electrode pair,wherein application of the at least one voltage across the corresponding at least one electrode pair creates a corresponding at least one plasma and causes a corresponding at least one electrohydrodynamic effect that pushes the fluid in the leakage flow of fluid flowing in the gap so as to reduce the leakage flow of the fluid. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one voltage is at least one pulsed voltage, wherein each pulsed voltage of the at least one pulsed voltage is pulsed at a blade passing frequency or a harmonic of the blade passing frequency. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the apparatus is a turbine. 4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the apparatus is a compressor. 5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the apparatus is a diffuser. 6. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein one or more of the at least one blade electrode is on a tip surface of the first blade. 7. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each of the at least one pulsed voltage is an ac voltage. 8. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each of the at least one pulsed voltage is a dc voltage. 9. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of blades is n blades, where n is an integer and n>1, wherein the blade passing frequency is a rotation frequency of the plurality of blades about the longitudinal axis multiplied by n. 10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the corresponding at least one electrohydrodynamic effect pushes the fluid in the leakage flow of fluid flowing in the gap in a direction having a component opposite to the leakage flow direction. 11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one voltage is at least one pulsed voltage. 12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the voltage source applies a first voltage of the at least one voltage across a first electrode pair of the at least one electrode pair,wherein application of the first voltage across the first electrode pair creates a corresponding first plasma and causes a corresponding electrohydrodynamic effect that pushes the fluid in the leakage flow of fluid flowing in the gap so as to reduce the leakage flow of the fluid. 13. An apparatus, comprising: a plurality of blades;a casing, wherein:(i) a fluid flowing from a high pressure side of the plurality of blades to a low pressure side of the plurality of blades in a direction of flow is incident on the plurality of blades and causes the plurality of blades to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the apparatus, or(ii) a fluid is caused to flow from a low pressure side of the plurality of blades to a high pressure side of the plurality of blades in a direction of flow when the plurality of blades is rotated about the longitudinal axis of the apparatus,wherein when the plurality of blades rotates about the longitudinal axis of the apparatus the plurality of blades moves relative to the casing such that there is a gap between each blade of the plurality of blades and the casing and a leakage flow of the fluid flows in the gap in a leakage flow direction,wherein the leakage flow direction is from the high pressure side of the plurality of blades to the low pressure side of the plurality of blades;a voltage source; andat least one electrode pair,wherein the voltage source applies a corresponding at least one voltage across the at least one electrode pair,wherein application of the at least one voltage across the at least one electrode pair creates a corresponding at least one plasma and causes a corresponding at least one electrohydrodynamic effect that pushes the fluid in the leakage flow of fluid flowing in the gap and reduces the leakage flow of the fluid,wherein the at least one electrode pair is located on the casing,wherein each electrode pair of the at least one electrode pair comprises:a first electrode of each electrode pair of the at least one electrode pair positioned proximate an inner surface of the casing, and a second electrode of each electrode pair of the at least one electrode pair offset in the leakage flow direction or offset in a direction opposite to the leakage flow direction from the corresponding first electrode of the corresponding electrode pair of the at least one electrode pair and separated from the corresponding first electrode by a dielectric,wherein the at least one electrode pair comprises three electrode pairs,wherein the electrode pairs of the three electrode pairs are offset from each other in an offset direction, wherein the offset direction is in the direction opposite to the leakage flow direction or in the same direction as the leakage flow direction,wherein three voltage phases of a corresponding three voltages of the at least one voltage applied across the three electrode pairs of the at least one electrode pair are lagged with respect to each other. 14. An apparatus, comprising: a plurality of blades;a casing, wherein:(i) a fluid flowing from a high pressure side of the plurality of blades to a low pressure side of the plurality of blades in a direction of flow is incident on the plurality of blades and causes the plurality of blades to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the apparatus, or(ii) a fluid is caused to flow from a low pressure side of the plurality of blades to a high pressure side of the plurality of blades in a direction of flow when the plurality of blades is rotated about the longitudinal axis of the apparatus,wherein when the plurality of blades rotates about the longitudinal axis of the apparatus the plurality of blades moves relative to the casing such that there is a gap between each blade of the plurality of blades and the casing and a leakage flow of the fluid flows in the gap in a leakage flow direction,wherein the leakage flow direction is from the high pressure side of the plurality of blades to the low pressure side of the plurality of blades;a voltage source; andat least one electrode pair, wherein the voltage source applies a corresponding at least one pulsed voltage across the at least one electrode pair,wherein application of the at least one pulsed voltage across the at least one electrode pair creates a corresponding at least one plasma and causes a corresponding at least one electrohydrodynamic effect that pushes the fluid in the leakage flow of fluid flowing in the gap so as to reduce leakage flow of the fluid,wherein each electrode pair of the at least one electrode pair is located on the casing,wherein the at least one electrode pair comprises:a first electrode of each electrode pair of the at least one electrode pair positioned proximate an inner surface of the casing, and a second electrode of each electrode pair of the at least one electrode pair offset in the leakage flow direction or offset in a direction opposite to the leakage flow direction from the corresponding first electrode of the corresponding electrode pair of the at least one electrode pair and separated from the corresponding first electrode by a dielectric,wherein each of the at least one pulsed voltage is pulsed at the blade passing frequency or a harmonic of the blade passing frequency. 15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein each of the at least one pulsed voltage is an ac voltage. 16. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein each of the at least one pulsed voltage is a dc voltage. 17. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the plurality of blades is n blades, where n is an integer and n>1, wherein the blade passing frequency is a rotation frequency of the plurality of blades about the longitudinal axis multiplied by n. 18. An apparatus comprising: a plurality of blades;a casing, wherein:(i) a fluid flowing from a high pressure side of the plurality of blades to a low pressure side of the plurality of blades in a direction of flow is incident on the plurality of blades and causes the plurality of blades to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the apparatus, or(ii) a fluid is caused to flow from a low pressure side of the plurality of blades to a high pressure side of the plurality of blades in a direction of flow when the plurality of blades is rotated about the longitudinal axis of the apparatus,wherein when the plurality of blades rotates about the longitudinal axis of the apparatus the plurality of blades moves relative to the casing such that there is a gap between each blade of the plurality of blades and the casing and a leakage flow of the fluid flows in the gap in a leakage flow direction,wherein the leakage flow direction is from the high pressure side of the plurality of blades to the low pressure side of the plurality of blades;a voltage source; andat least one electrode pair,wherein the voltage source applies a corresponding at least one voltage across the at least one electrode pair,wherein application of the at least one voltage across the at least one electrode pair creates a corresponding at least one plasma and causes a corresponding at least one electrohydrodynamic effect that pushes the fluid in the leakage flow of fluid flowing in the gap and reduces leakage flow of the fluid,wherein each electrode pair of the at least one electrode pair comprises a first electrode of each electrode pair of the at least one electrode pair on a tip surface of one of the blades of the plurality of blades and a second electrode of each electrode pair of the at least one electrode pair on the tip surface of the one of the blades of the plurality of blades offset in a first offset direction from the first electrode and separated from the first electrode by a dielectric,wherein the first offset direction is a direction opposite to the leakage flow direction or in the same direction as the leakage flow direction,wherein the at least one electrode pair comprises three electrode pairs positioned on a first blade,wherein the electrode pairs of the three electrode pairs are offset from each other in a second offset direction, where the second offset direction is in the direction opposite to the leakage flow direction or in the same direction as the leakage flow direction,wherein three voltage phases of a corresponding three voltages of the at least one voltage applied across the three electrode pairs of the at last one electrode pair are lagged with respect to each other. 19. An apparatus comprising: a plurality of blades;a casing, wherein:(i) a fluid flowing from a high pressure side of the plurality of blades to a low pressure side of the plurality of blades in a direction of flow is incident on the plurality of blades and causes the plurality of blades to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the apparatus, or(ii) a fluid is caused to flow from a low pressure side of the plurality of blades to a high pressure side of the plurality of blades in a direction of flow when the plurality of blades is rotated about the longitudinal axis of the apparatus,wherein when the plurality of blades rotates about the longitudinal axis of the apparatus the plurality of blades moves relative to the casing such that there is a gap between each blade of the plurality of blades and the casing and a leakage flow of the fluid flows in the gap in a leakage flow direction,wherein the leakage flow direction is from the high pressure side of the plurality of blades to the low pressure side of the plurality of blades;a voltage source; andat least one electrode pair, wherein each electrode pair of the at least one electrode pair comprises a first electrode of each electrode pair of the at least one electrode pair and a second electrode of each electrode pair of the at least one electrode pair offset from the first electrode in the leakage flow direction or in a direction opposite to the leakage flow direction,wherein the voltage source applies a corresponding at least one voltage across the at least one electrode pair,wherein application of the at least one voltage across the at least one electrode pair creates a corresponding at least one plasma and causes a corresponding at least one electrohydrodynamic effect that pushes the fluid in the leakage flow of fluid flowing in the gap so as to reduce leakage flow of the fluid, wherein the voltage source applies a first voltage of the at least one voltage across a first electrode air of the at least one electrode pair,wherein application of the first voltage across the first electrode pair creates a corresponding first plasma and causes a corresponding electrohydrodynamic effect that pushes the fluid in the leakage flow of fluid flowing in the gap so as to reduce the leakage flow of the fluid; andat least one magnet positioned such that each magnetic field of a corresponding at least one magnetic field from the at least one magnet has a component normal to the direction of leakage flow such that the at least one magnetic field creates a corresponding at least one Lorentz force on the fluid in the leakage flow flowing in the gap and contributes to the reducing leakage flow of the fluid. 20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the at least one magnet is embedded in the plurality of blades. 21. A method for reducing leakage flow loss in an apparatus, wherein the apparatus comprises: a plurality of blades;a casing, wherein:(i) a fluid flowing from a high pressure side of the plurality of blades to a low pressure side of the plurality of blades in a direction of flow is incident on the plurality of blades and causes the plurality of blades to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the apparatus, or(ii) a fluid is caused to flow from a low pressure side of the plurality of blades to a high pressure side of the plurality of blades in a direction of flow when the plurality of blades is rotated about the longitudinal axis of the apparatus,wherein when the plurality of blades rotates about the longitudinal axis of the apparatus the plurality of blades moves relative to the casing such that there is a gap between each blade of the plurality of blades and the casing and a leakage flow of the fluid flows in the gap in a leakage flow direction,wherein the leakage flow direction is from the high pressure side of the plurality of blades to the low pressure side of the plurality of blades; andat least one electrode pair,the method comprising:applying a corresponding at least one pulsed voltage across the at least one electrode pair,wherein each electrode pair of the at least one electrode pair comprises a corresponding at least one blade electrode of the electrode pair of the at least one electrode pair and a corresponding at least one casing electrode of the electrode pair of the at least one electrode pair,wherein the at least one blade electrode is on a first blade of the plurality of blades and the at least one casing electrode is on the casing,wherein each casing electrode of the at least one casing electrode is offset in the leakage flow direction or offset in a direction opposite to the leakage flow direction from the corresponding blade electrode of the at least one blade electrode,wherein the application of the at least one pulsed voltage across the at least one electrode pair creates a corresponding at least one plasma and causes a corresponding at least one electrohydrodynamic effect that pushes the fluid in the leakage flow of fluid flowing in the gap so as to reduce leakage flow of the fluid. 22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the apparatus is a turbine. 23. The method according to claim 21, wherein the apparatus is a compressor. 24. The method according to claim 21, wherein the apparatus is a diffuser. 25. The method according to claim 21, wherein one or more of the at least one blade electrode is on a tip surface of the first blade. 26. The method according to claim 21, wherein each of the at least one pulsed voltage is an ac voltage. 27. The method according to claim 21, wherein each of the at least one pulsed voltage is a dc voltage. 28. The method according to claim 21, wherein the at least one pulsed voltage is pulsed at a blade passing frequency or a harmonic of the blade passing frequency. 29. The method according to claim 21, wherein the plurality of blades has n blades, where n is an integer and n>1, wherein the blade passing frequency is a rotation frequency of the plurality of blades about the longitudinal axis multiplied by n. 30. A method for reducing leakage flow loss in an apparatus, wherein the apparatus comprises: a plurality of blades;a casing, wherein:(i) a fluid flowing from a high pressure side of the plurality of blades to a low pressure side of the plurality of blades in a direction of flow is incident on the plurality of blades and causes the plurality of blades to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the apparatus, or(ii) a fluid is caused to flow from a low pressure side of the plurality of blades to a high pressure side of the plurality of blades in a direction of flow when the plurality of blades is rotated about the longitudinal axis of the apparatus,wherein when the plurality of blades rotates about the longitudinal axis of the apparatus the plurality of blades moves relative to the casing such that there is a gap between each blade of the plurality of blades and the casing and a leakage flow of the fluid flows in the gap in a leakage flow direction,wherein the leakage flow direction is from the high pressure side of the plurality of blades to the low pressure side of the plurality of blades; andat least one electrode pair,wherein the at least one electrode pair is located on the casing,wherein each electrode pair of the at least one electrode pair comprises:a first electrode of each electrode pair of the at least one electrode pair positioned proximate an inner surface of the casing, and a second electrode of each electrode pair of the at least one electrode pair offset in the leakage flow direction or offset in a direction opposite to the leakage flow direction from the corresponding first electrode of the corresponding electrode pair of the at least one electrode pair and separated from the corresponding first electrode by a dielectric,the method comprising:applying a corresponding at least one voltage across the at least one electrode pair,wherein the application of the at least one voltage across the at least one electrode pair creates a plasma and causes a corresponding at least one electrohydrodynamic effect that pushes the fluid in the leakage flow of fluid flowing in the gap so as to reduce leakage flow of the fluid,wherein the at least one electrode pair comprises three electrode pairs,wherein the electrode pairs of the three electrode pairs are offset from each other in an offset direction, where the offset direction is in the direction opposite the leakage flow direction or in the same direction as the leakage flow direction,wherein three voltage phases of a corresponding three voltages of the at least one voltage applied across the three electrode pairs of the at least one electrode pair are lagged with respect to each other. 31. A method for reducing leakage flow loss in an apparatus, wherein the apparatus comprises: a plurality of blades;a casing, wherein:(i) a fluid flowing from a high pressure side of the plurality of blades to a low pressure side of the plurality of blades in a direction of flow is incident on the plurality of blades and causes the plurality of blades to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the apparatus, or(ii) a fluid is caused to flow from a low pressure side of the plurality of blades to a high pressure side of the plurality of blades in a direction of flow when the plurality of blades is rotated about the longitudinal axis of the apparatus,wherein when the plurality of blades rotates about the longitudinal axis of the apparatus the plurality of blades moves relative to the casing such that there is a gap between each blade of the plurality of blades and the casing and a leakage flow of the fluid flows in the gap in a leakage flow direction,wherein the leakage flow direction is from the high pressure side of the plurality of blades to the low pressure side of the plurality of blades; andat least one electrode pair,the method comprising:applying a corresponding at least one pulsed voltage across at least one electrode pair,wherein the application of the at least one pulsed voltage across the at least one electrode pair creates a corresponding at least one plasma and causes a corresponding at least one electrohydrodynamic effect that pushes the fluid in the leakage flow of fluid flowing in the gap so as to reduce leakage flow of the fluid,wherein the at least one electrode pair is located on the casing, wherein each electrode pair of the at least one electrode pair comprises: a first electrode of each electrode pair of the at least one electrode pair positioned proximate an inner surface of the casing, anda second electrode of each electrode pair of the at least one electrode pair offset in the leakage flow direction or offset in a direction opposite to the leakage flow direction from the corresponding first electrode of the corresponding electrode pair of the at least one electrode pair and separated from the corresponding first electrode by a dielectric,wherein each of the at least one pulsed voltage is pulsed at the blade passing frequency or a harmonic of the blade passing frequency. 32. The method according to claim 31, wherein each of the at least one voltage is an ac voltage. 33. The method according to claim 31, wherein each of the at least one voltage is a dc voltage. 34. The method according to claim 31, wherein the plurality of blades is n blades, where n is an integer and n>1, wherein the blade passing frequency is a rotation frequency of the plurality of blades about the longitudinal axis multiplied by n. 35. A method for reducing leakage flow loss in an apparatus, wherein the apparatus comprises: a plurality of blades;a casing, wherein:(i) a fluid flowing from a high pressure side of the plurality of blades to a low pressure side of the plurality of blades in a direction of flow is incident on the plurality of blades and causes the plurality of blades to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the apparatus, or(ii) a fluid is caused to flow from a low pressure side of the plurality of blades to a high pressure side of the plurality of blades in a direction of flow when the plurality of blades is rotated about the longitudinal axis of the apparatus,wherein when the plurality of blades rotates about the longitudinal axis of the apparatus the plurality of blades moves relative to the casing such that there is a gap between each blade of the plurality of blades and the casing and a leakage flow of the fluid flows in the gap in a leakage flow direction,wherein the leakage flow direction is from the high pressure side of the plurality of blades to the low pressure side of the plurality of blades; andat least one electrode pair,wherein each electrode pair of the at least one electrode pair comprises a first electrode of each electrode pair of the at least one electrode pair on a tip surface of one of the blades of the plurality of blades and a second electrode of each electrode pair of the at least one electrode pair on the tip surface of the one of the blades of the plurality of blades offset in the leakage flow direction or offset in a direction opposite to the leakage flow direction from the first electrode and separated from the first electrode by a dielectric,wherein the at least one electrode pair comprises three electrode pairs, wherein the electrode pairs of the three electrode pairs are offset from each other in an offset direction,wherein the offset direction is in the direction opposite to the leakage flow direction or in the same direction as the leakage flow direction,the method comprising:applying a corresponding at least one voltage across the at least one electrode pair,wherein the application of the at least one voltage across the at least one electrode pair creates a corresponding at least one plasma and causes a corresponding at least one electrohydrodynamic effect that pushes the fluid in the leakage flow of fluid flowing in the gap so as to reduce leakage flow of the fluid,wherein applying the at least one voltage across the at least one electrode pair comprises applying a corresponding three voltages of the at least one voltage across the three electrode pairs,wherein a corresponding three voltage phases of the three voltages applied across the three electrode pairs are lagged with respect to each other. 36. A method for reducing leakage flow loss in an apparatus, wherein the apparatus comprises: a plurality of blades;a casing, wherein:(i) a fluid flowing from a high pressure side of the plurality of blades to a low pressure side of the plurality of blades in a direction of flow is incident on the plurality of blades and causes the plurality of blades to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the apparatus, or(ii) a fluid is caused to flow from a low pressure side of the plurality of blades to a high pressure side of the plurality of blades in a direction of flow when the plurality of blades is rotated about the longitudinal axis of the apparatus,wherein when the plurality of blades rotates about the longitudinal axis of the apparatus the plurality of blades moves relative to the casing such that there is a gap between each blade of the plurality of blades and the casing and a leakage flow of the fluid flows in the gap in a leakage flow direction,wherein the leakage flow direction is from the high pressure side of the plurality of blades to the low pressure side of the plurality of blades; andat least one electrode pair, wherein each electrode pair of the at least one electrode pair comprises a first electrode of each electrode pair of the at least one electrode pair and a second electrode of each electrode pair of the at least one electrode pair offset from the first electrode in the leakage flow direction or in a direction opposite to the leakage flow direction,the method comprising:applying a corresponding at least one voltage across at least one electrode pair,wherein the application of the at least one voltage across the at least one electrode pair creates a corresponding at least one plasma and causes a corresponding at least one electrohydrodynamic effect that pushes the fluid in the leakage flow of fluid flowing in the gap so as to reduce leakage flow of the fluid, wherein the voltage source applies a first voltage of the at least one voltage across a first electrode pair of the at least one electrode pair,wherein application of the first voltage across the first electrode pair creates a corresponding first plasma and causes a corresponding electrohydrodynamic effect that pushes the fluid in the leakage flow of fluid flowing in the gap so as to reduce the leakage flow of the fluid; andpositioning at least one magnet such that each magnetic field of a corresponding at least one magnetic field from the at least one magnet has a component normal to the direction of leakage flow such that the at least one magnetic field creates a corresponding at least one Lorentz force on the fluid in the leakage flow flowing in the gap and contributes to reducing leakage flow of the fluid. 37. The method according to claim 36, wherein the at least one magnet is embedded in the plurality of blades.
