The secret life of fluid dynamics in the patent world

A significant proportion of technical knowledge is only to be found in patent publications (80 percent of all technical knowledge, by some accounts). Fluid dynamics, often viewed as an abstruse discipline, has a surprisingly concrete life in the patent world, with an entire CPC subclass devoted to it. On the other hand, scientific journals are replete with examples of well-meaning academics giving away perfectly patentable ideas, often to be trivially commercialized by others for unseemly gains. The patent literature is complementary, rather than an alternative, to peer-reviewed publications and is a tremendous resource for 21st century academics; it can be instrumental for sparking creativity, generating ideas for proposals, and for an insider look into the industrial/commerical applications and relevance of fluid dynamics. It may also be useful in battling fatalistic resignation among aspiring academics, which is often inadvertently induced by the well-meaning Clay Math Institute. The expense of obtaining (or even filing) a patent generally ensures the expression of commercially useful ideas in patent publications, even if they may not be expressed in the most articulate and persuasive manner.