The ACE MECHANISM 
- Mechanising the Engines of Nature.
- Understanding the Cylone.
- The ACE Mechanism.
- Basic Principle of all Heat Pumps.
- Principles of the ACE Mechanism.
- Aircraft Features and Benefits.
- The Artificial (ACE Aircraft) Energy Cycle.
- Extended benefits of ACE Aircraft and Pyramids.
Mechanising the Engines of Nature.
Entirely solar-powered, the horizontal ring vortex (HRV) is an extremely stable phenomenon that is part of every storm. Once established it's natural action allows it to extract energy from the surrounding atmosphere to well below the pre-existing ambient conditions. The effect is responsible for leaving the air cool and fresh after a storm's passge
However, HRVs are found in Nature in two quite distinct orientations and while both are major players in driving our weather they otherwise have remarkably different characteristics and potentially draw their energy from entirely different sources. Like all types of vortex, they commonly interact and are able to exchange energy and convert rapidly from one type to another. The control and harnessing of vortex phenomena is key to accessing a free and unlimited source of both energy and fresh water. To top
Being far lighter than the surrounding air, the extreme bouyancy of a vapour bubble can make it almost impossible to physically contain but the vortexes they generate nevertheless have a major role to play in Climate Control.
All vortexes require some sort of external trigger mechanism to get them going. In the case of the 'Normal Ring Vortex', the NRV, that mechanism is supplied naturally by the convective lifting of warm air. The more vapour in the air, the stronger the lifting force and the more intense the vortexes created and the greater the likelihood of storm activity. This convective lifting applies to all storms and is entirely accepted physics.
The NRV (fig.1) is an integral part of every storm and draws its energy primarily from vapour already held in the air. The NRV commonly starts as a result of the convective lifting of a bubble of vapour from a surface heated by the sun.
What is new, is an understanding of what happens when (by chance or by design), a closed ring of convective lifting is able to establish an 'Inverted Ring Vortexed', the IRV. Should an IRV become fully established, as occurs in the Eye and Eyewall of a Cyclone (see fig 2.), it demonstrates completely different characteristics to the NRV. These differences are of immense significance in the workings of our climate and in their potential as a new and previously unrecognised source of accessable energy, that can be made readily available for all our human needs with only the simplest of mechanisms.
By its natural action and in stark contrast to the events in the surrounding storm, the rotation within the IRV at the heart of a cyclone develops strong negative bouyancy by pushing down against the surrounding air. By pushing ddown onto the ground or sea it has an enormous ability to release additional vapour (ie energy) from any wet surface (see fig 3). Indeed, the IRV has a natural ability to access energy directly from not one but two unique sources, from the water beneath and from the Stratosphere above (see 'How the Weather Works' elsewhere on this site). To top
Understanding the Cylone.
Suitably harnessed, the solar-powered phenomena that drive our weather have the clear potential to supply all our human needs as regards both energy and fresh water.
In Nature, the IRV is seen only as the inner, driving mechanism of a microburst beneath a major storm or as the fully developed Eye of a cyclone (fig.2). Thus, when formed within a ring of conventional (NRV) storms within a major Tropical Depression, the NRV/IRV combination (fig.3 ) becomes a cyclone, the most powerful of all storm phenomena. To top
A cyclone essentially comprises an IRV at the centre of a massive, fully encircling NRV that itself is made up of potentially dozens or even hundreds of individual (NRV) storms all acting together to form the containing ring of the eyewall. Once fully established, a cyclone rarely dissipates until the eyewall containment mechanism is somehow broken, possibly by growing too large but more commonly by crossing a major coastline. Once fully established, unless its path crosses a coastline, the cyclone phenomenon can continue in operation indefinitely. A fully devlped storm can continue extracting energy even from the relatively cool waters of the North Allantic Gulf Stream current that are far cooler than tthe tropical waters that first allowed the storm to develop.
The IRV is the central powerhouse or engine of Nature’s cyclone and its intensity is largely independent of its size. When harnessed in miniature form, it has a special role to play both in powering a novel type of aircraft and in the large-scale production of power and fresh water. With some provisos, (see ‘A Global Threat’) the IRV has almost unlimited potential to supply energy and fresh water directly from the atmosphere to meet all the needs of a modern, industrialised society. Once started, the only way of limiting the power of a cyclone is by breaking the vortex or controlling the essential input of vapour. In Nature this normally happens when the storm crosses a major coastline. In a machine, other options must be considered. To top
Introducing the ACE (aircraft) Mechanism.
The basic principle of the ACE Mechanism couldn't be simpler. Blow air radially outwards from inside and yet above the perimeter of a circular horizontal 'ground plane barrier' and you'll lower the air pressure and create lift. In an aircraft, the 'ground plane barrier' is artificial, as a part of the aircraft. (see fig 4.)
By deduction and by elimination I have developed a basic machine I call the ACE Mechanism (fig.4 ) to initiate and artificially control the IRV. Initially developed for application in a novel aircraft, the ACE Mechanism initiates (in miniature) the same vortex rotation seen in the heart of a cyclone to generate a region of extreme low pressure. As in the eye of a cyclone, the lifting force can theoretically far exceed 1tonne/m2
In the (ACE) Aircraft application this vortex rotation is isolated from the ground and confined to the vicinity of the craft. In other applications like power production or desalination, the essential ground plane barrier would indeed be the ground or the surface of the sea but the basic principles of its operation are otherwise identical. To top
A ring vortex has significant capacity to extract energy from vapour held naturally in the air. Once started, the recycling of both water and energy are thus inherent in the basic principles of any atmospheric HRV. In most circumstances, in extractimg the energy to keep it aloft, an ACE aircraft would extract more water than was otherwise needed for its operation. Indeed, as within any normal storm, the vortex action would not only provide significant lift, it would actively generate an excess in the form of (rain)water.
An ACE airdcraft would thus not need to carry fuel in any accepted sense. However, in the practical operation of a fully autonomous aircraft, the initial start mechanism would probably be kept operating at some level throughout the flight to power auxiliary systems and controls and for added reliability. It would also offer greater overall performance, speed and versatility.
In the distant past (see Archaeology) the technology clearly involved the use of beamed energy from a remote source but until those systems too are redeveloped, I’ve substituted onboard systems that serve the same purpose. To top
Basic Principle of all Heat Pumps.
The principles of the ACE mechanism are entirely similar to those applied in conventional refrigeration and air conditioning systems that are known to extract ~3½ x more energy from the atmosphere than is required to run the machine. The one major difference with the ACE mechanism is that the energy it produces is all high grade and it thus requires no grid connection to keep it going. In Nature, as with a conventional Heat Pump, (as any salesperson will happily announce), the heat pump mechanism can extract power and fresh water from the air or from any suitable source of open water and even, at a pinch, from ice or snow.
The ACE mechanism is potentially far simpler and vastly more efficient than any conventional modern heat pump and, once started, will produce energy of sufficiently high quality to have no need for any connection to the National Grid except perhaps to supply it with the excess energy it is able to produce. To top
Principles of the ACE Mechanism.
Borrowing closely on the principles seem in the eye of a cyclone, once started,the ACE mechanism is driven by the expansion and contraction of water vapour that occur naturally within an inverted horizontal ring vortex (IRV). The vortex phenomena is formed entirely external to the body of the main mechanism and above the integral ground plane that is a part of the body of the machine.
The lifting power of an unbroken ring vortex develops in association with the artificial ground plane and is the primary active mechanism. The (ACE) Mechanism thus provides the initial trigger to start and then control the IRV vortex phenomena in a controlled way that also serves to amplify and recycle much of the energy drawn in. The only by-product is fresh water. The additional energy is drawn as vapour from sources external to the machine by the low pressure and the winds created naturally by the vortex action. The mechanical version clearly has far greater potential to significantly enhance the processes demonstrated within Nature in the eye of a cyclone. To top
The pressure drop in the eye of both cyclones and tornados has frequently been measured at over 100mb. This is over 3x the lift force provided by the wing of most efficient conventional aircraft known but is seen as the minimum goal of vortex technology as it applies to this new type of aircraft.
A 100mb pressure drop represents a potential lifting force of ~1000kg/m2 and is well within the maximum set in Nature*. The Ground Plane Barrier (GPB) is an integral part of the ACE mechanism. In the aircraft application, a circular, artificial GPB generates an IRV effectively attached to the machines perimeter. The whole top surface of the machine thus acts very much like the wing of a conventional aircraft but promises to be far more effective and efficient. (* In Nature, a record low of 870mb was recorded in Cyclone Tip in 1979. This is ~140mb below the standard atmospheric norm of ~1012mb and approximately equal to 1.4tonnes of lift per m2.) To top
ACE Aircraft Features and Benefits.
As inherent design features, the VTOL, ACE-powered aircraft would have no significant undercarriage or fuel tanks and since the lifting force is applied to the top surface of the aircraft, the cabin and wings would essentially be combined as a single entity with uniformly high lift. Somewhat like a helicopter, the lifting force is produced independent of the aircraft’s movement through the air but can be vectored to provide forward propulsion.
This new aircraft will have superb VTOL performance and in its ultimate form and powered remotely, would have no need at all for engines or fuel in the accepted sense. It could though store excess water collected as it passed through the lower atmosphere for use as reaction mass for flight higher into the upper atmosphere or even into space.
The aircraft would have a relatively light, flash tube boiler to produce high-pressure steam to provide the motive force for generating the main lift vortex. The steam could also provide direct thrust at higher altitude. The aircraft could essentially operate without moving parts, aside from valves and control surfaces. To top
In Nature, it is clear that, once started, the IRV mechanism of a cyclone is a self-sustaining and highly stable unit until broken by changing external circumstances, most commonly by crossing a coastline that breaks up the essential circle of storms. With its integrated ground plane and using enhanced forms of the same basic phenomena, the (artificial) ACE mechanism could thus potentially operate much as desired anywhere within the breathable atmosphere. With specific enhancements this flight envelope could be further extended into the upper atmosphere and possibly even into space, especially if supplied with energy from a remote source . To top
In extremely dry conditions, efficient operation may require the use of an onboard source of water vapour but under normal circumstances the machine will produce an excess of water as a natural by-product of its operation. Likewise, in extremely cold conditions, additional heat may be needed to sustain maximum efficiency operation.
The natural start mechanism within a cyclone is almost certainly related to the recently discovered Hot Towers and/or to mechanisms identified in other vortex break-ups. With sufficient momentum, the dumping of a mass of extremely cold, dry air over warm ocean waters, possibly with entrained hail, is seen as the probable trigger for cyclone formation. The ACE mechanism produces almost identical results to this so-called ‘microburst’ phenomenon. Identified in recent years as responsible for downing a number of conventional aircraft, the microburst effect in the ACE machine is generated in a controlled manner.
The operation of the ACE Mechanism is based on harnessing both the expansion and the contraction effects of water at the water/vapour phase-change barrier as they occur within a Horizontal Ring Vortex at a GPB. The NRV and IRV can be studied as two separate but complementary phenomena but my focus is primarily upon the IRV an the ACE. To top
The Artificial (ACE Aircraft) Energy Cycle
The HOT (expansion) cycle.
1. A ring of high pressure dry-steam blasts outward from steam jets generated by the onboard boiler to initiate and accelerate vortex rotation.
2. The fan-forced hot air feeding the boiler passes through a vaporiser and also heats the upper, domed surface of the machine from the underside. It is then ejected with the pressurised steam to aid vortex rotation.
3. The steam and heater efflux pass over a heated, circular airfoil-shaped dome that forms the ground-plane base of the machine to maximise energy conversion into lift.
4. A circular, venturi-style airfoil positioned above the dome maximises the vortex effects and produces a pressure drop confined above the centre of the machine by the encircling ring vortex.
NB. Although steam greatly enhances the effects, the ring expulsion of air has in the past been used to produce viable lift for a number of experimental aircraft. (see 'Vapour & Vortex Engines' under 'Beamed Energy Technology' in my earlier research).To top
The COLD (contraction) cycle.5.The being air drawn into the heater from above first passes through an M-cycle heat exchanger (or refrigration) array to chill the air so as to maximise water removal and initiate the air’s volumetric collapse.
6.The cool and relatively dry air is then fed through the flash boiler before being sprayed with preheated water in the fan/atomiser to maximise the production of vapour entering the expansion side of the cycle. (see fig 2)
The enhancements are all designed to maximise the pressure differential inside the IRV attached to ground plane of the machine, exactly as occurs within a cyclone though in this case the ground plane happens to be the base of the machine rather than the actual ground. The artificial ground plane isolates the low pressure within the vortex from the real ground below, where normal atmospheric pressure still pertains. Massively reduced air pressure directly above the machine (within the perimeter vortex) and normal air pressure below promises to turn the machine into a lifting body of extraordinary potential. To top
Extended benefits of ACE Aircraft and Pyramids.
In the longer term, the ACE aircraft could be developed further to use externally supplied power in the form of an energy beam of microwaves or reflected sunlight supplied fromt the ground (and/or ultimately from space). Once airborne, the ACE Mechanism aircraft would draw enormous benefit by combining with the NRV technology of pyramids.
Although the ACE aircraft (as disccussed so far) is fully aurtonmomous, the thermal produced by a pyramid could enormously boost its lift and general performance. It is seen as entirely possible that an ACE aircraft could be designed to use the remote energy supplied in this manner as its -primary source of power.
In a manner very similar to conventional gliders, the VTOL, ACE aircraft would lift somewhat like a hot air balloon or parachute caught in the thermal of a storm. With pyramids suitably spaced across the countryside, these craft would go from one to the next without ever needing an onboard source of fuel or power. Supplied with energy from the ground, such an aircraft would be super-efficient over enormous distances. (fig.5)
Other applications to use the ACE Mechanism can best be appreciated from a study of my findings in relation to the Pharos Lighthouse, believed to be the embodiment of the most advanced form of this technology seen so far on planet Earth. The sophistication of the technology at Alexandria is still being evaluated.
