Ribbed spinner for turbofans

1 . An engine system comprising:

a spinner disposed at a forward end of the engine system, wherein the spinner is disposed about a longitudinal centerline of the engine system;

a plurality of spinner ribs disposed on a surface of the spinner and extending radially outward from the longitudinal centerline, wherein the spinner and the plurality of spinner ribs are configured to rotate about the longitudinal centerline of the engine system, wherein the plurality of spinner ribs include an axial length that is at least 1.5 times greater than a radial height of the plurality of spinner ribs; and

a plurality of fan blades disposed downstream of the spinner, wherein the plurality of fan blades extend radially outward from the longitudinal centerline and are configured to rotate about the longitudinal centerline of the engine system, wherein the plurality of fan blades includes a radial height;

wherein the spinner and the plurality of spinner ribs rotate and impart additional pressure onto incoming air as the incoming air contacts and passes by the spinner and the plurality of fan blades,

wherein the radial height of the plurality of spinner ribs is 1-20% of the radial height of the plurality of fan blades.

2 . The engine system of claim 1 wherein the spinner including the plurality of spinner ribs is configured to rotate in a same direction of the plurality of fan blades about the longitudinal centerline.

3 . The engine system of claim 1 wherein the axial length of the plurality of spinner ribs extends along from the longitudinal centerline, wherein the axial length of the plurality of spinner ribs is 10-100% of an axial length of the spinner.

4 . The engine system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of spinner ribs are disposed circumferentially around the spinner.

5 . The engine system of claim 4 wherein the plurality of spinner ribs are disposed with a uniform spacing around the spinner.

6 . The engine system of claim 4 wherein the plurality of spinner ribs are disposed with a uniform angle relative to the longitudinal centerline around the spinner.

7 . The engine system of claim 4 wherein the plurality of spinner ribs are disposed with a uniform aft position relative to the axial length of the spinner.

8 . The engine system of claim 1 wherein the radial height of the plurality of spinner ribs extends radially outward from the longitudinal centerline and the surface of the spinner, and wherein the plurality of fan blades include a radial height extending radially outward from the longitudinal centerline.

9 . The engine system of claim 8 wherein the radial height of the plurality of spinner ribs is 10% of the radial height of the plurality of fan blades.

10 . The engine system of claim 1 wherein the radial height of the plurality of spinner ribs varies along the axial length of the plurality of spinner ribs extending along from the longitudinal centerline.

11 . The engine system of claim 1 wherein a number of spinner ribs is greater than a number of fan blades.

12 . The engine system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of spinner ribs are comprised of a plurality of discrete portions substantially in line with one another.

13 . The engine system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of spinner ribs are curved towards a direction of rotation of the spinner.

14 . The engine system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of spinner ribs are curved away from a direction of rotation of the spinner.

15 . The engine system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of spinner ribs are staggered along an axial length of the spinner, the axial length of the spinner extending along the longitudinal centerline.

16 . The engine system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of spinner ribs include an acoustic liner disposed on a surface of the plurality of spinner ribs or within the plurality of spinner ribs.

17 . A method for directing air into an inlet of an engine system, the method comprising:

creating an airflow by operating the engine system of claim 1 ;

progressing the airflow past the spinner wherein the spinner is a ribbed spinner, wherein a portion of the airflow contacts the ribbed spinner;

imparting additional pressure onto the portion of the airflow when the portion of the airflow contacts the ribbed spinner;

progressing the airflow past the plurality of fan blades disposed downstream of the ribbed spinner, wherein the ribbed spinner and the plurality of fan blades rotate about a longitudinal centerline;

ingesting at least some of the airflow into the inlet of the engine system; and

causing the engine system to operate using the ingested airflow.

18 . The engine system of claim 1 wherein an axial forward end of the plurality of spinner ribs are disposed with a uniform aft position relative to the axial length of the spinner.