Inlet bellmouth with coating in measurement annulus region

Abstract

An airflow inlet may include a bellmouth component having a substantially uneven internal surface, and a variable thickness coating in a measurement annulus region of the substantially uneven internal surface. The measurement annulus region includes only an annulus about the internal surface of the bellmouth component. The variable thickness coating is configured to present a more even internal surface than the substantially uneven internal surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An airflow inlet, comprising:
 a bellmouth component having a substantially uneven internal surface; and   a variable thickness coating in a measurement annulus region of the substantially uneven internal surface, the variable thickness coating configured to present a more even internal surface than the substantially uneven internal surface,   wherein the measurement annulus region includes only an annulus about the internal surface of the bellmouth component.   
     
     
         2 . The airflow inlet of  claim 1 , wherein the coating includes an epoxy. 
     
     
         3 . The airflow inlet of  claim 1 , wherein the coating includes a plastic. 
     
     
         4 . The airflow inlet of  claim 1 , wherein the coating includes a fiberglass. 
     
     
         5 . The airflow inlet of  claim 1 , further comprising a static pressure sensor system configured to determine a static pressure of an airflow through the bellmouth component using an annulus area based on the more even internal surface. 
     
     
         6 . The airflow inlet of  claim 1 , wherein the bellmouth component includes a cast bellmouth component having the substantially uneven internal surface. 
     
     
         7 . The airflow inlet of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially uneven internal surface varies up to 1.3 centimeters. 
     
     
         8 . The airflow inlet of  claim 1 , wherein the measurement annulus region includes opposing slanted sides. 
     
     
         9 . The airflow inlet of  claim 1 , wherein the annulus includes at least one strut at least partially covered with the variable thickness coating. 
     
     
         10 . A bellmouth component for an airflow inlet, the bellmouth component comprising:
 a static pressure measurement annulus region configured for measuring a static pressure by at least one sensor system, the measurement annulus region including a variable thickness coating on a substantially uneven internal surface of the bellmouth component in only the measurement annulus region, the variable thickness coating configured to present a more even surface variation than the substantially uneven internal surface within the measurement annulus region.   
     
     
         11 . The bellmouth component of  claim 10 , wherein the variable thickness coating is selected from the group consisting of: an epoxy, a plastic and a fiberglass. 
     
     
         12 . The bellmouth component of  claim 10 , further comprising the at least one sensor system at the measurement annulus region configured to measure the static pressure of an airflow through the bellmouth component. 
     
     
         13 . The bellmouth component of  claim 10 , wherein the substantially uneven internal surface varies up to 1.3 centimeters. 
     
     
         14 . The bellmouth component of  claim 10 , wherein the bellmouth component includes a cast bellmouth component. 
     
     
         15 . The bellmouth component of  claim 10 , wherein the measurement annulus region includes opposing slanted sides. 
     
     
         16 . The bellmouth component of  claim 10 , wherein the annulus includes at least one strut at least partially covered with the variable thickness coating. 
     
     
         17 . A method comprising:
 accessing a bellmouth component of an airflow inlet, the bellmouth component including a substantially uneven internal surface; and   applying a variable thickness coating to a measurement annulus region of the substantially uneven internal surface of the bellmouth component to create a more even internal surface, wherein the measurement annulus region includes only an annulus about the internal surface of the bellmouth component.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the measurement annulus region includes an annulus area at which a static pressure of an airflow through the bellmouth component is measured. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising revising a correction factor used for determining a static pressure of an airflow through the bellmouth component, wherein the correction factor is initially based on the substantially uneven internal surface.