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Old 27th February 2002 | 20:44
  #11 (permalink)  
ft
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 436
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From: N. Europe
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Consider the air going around the "intake" as well. It has to have accelerate laterally to follow the narrowing cone. No acceleration without a pressure gradient so there will be a lower than ambient pressure on the outside of the cone.

I don't think it is unreasonable to assume near ambient pressure not long after the outlet from the cone. Assuming constant mass flow throughout the cone, this will mean a higher pressure in the inlet created by ram effect in the oncoming wind which falls off towards the outlet.

Low pressure on the outside, higher pressure on the inside -> cone stays inflated.

Please find any errors in thinking or assumptions. <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

Cheers,. . /ft
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