A DC corona discharge on a flat plate to induce air movement

Abstract

This paper describes a DC surface corona discharge designed to modify the airflow around a flat plate. The electrode configuration consisted of two thin copper layers placed on each side of the plate's attack edge. Discharge optical measurements with a photomultiplier tube indicated that the light emitted by the plasma is pulsating, at a frequency that increases with applied voltage. Moreover, with voltage higher than a threshold value, the electric discharge changes regime with brighter pulses. This discharge also induced an "ionic wind" whose velocity was measured with a pressure sensing probe (up to 1 m/s). Experiments with the Particle Image Velocimetry system in a subsonic wind tunnel showed that this discharge can reduce the separated airflow on the flat plate for a flow of 14 m/s (Reynolds number of 187,000).

Study of the flow induced by a sliding discharge

“…The streamers presence in the inter-electrode gap is mainly the responsible of the luminous aspect of this region. The aerodynamic performances of BED plasma sheet actuators have been reported in previous works for different flow conditions [12][13][14][15][16][17][18]. The main drawback of BED plasma actuators is that the electrical discharge becomes unstable under certain atmospheric conditions.…”

Basic Study on Flow Control by Using Plasma Actuator

“…We aim to generate about 1-m/s ionic wind velocity at a height of 1 mm from flat plate to decrease the surface drag; even a plasma actuator can generate several meters per second at 1-mm-height ionic wind velocity [14]- [16]. In industry, this phenomenon could play a role to flow the fluid in the tubes or other applications.…”

“…The ionic wind has applications in various fields, such as heat and mass transfer [10]- [13], separation flow control [14]- [16], or wind blower [17]- [19]. It can generate airflow with no moving parts and simple structure and has a fast response due to the Coulomb force [16].…”

“…Ionic wind at positive corona with the pin-plate electrode configuration [2], [5]. power supply, since they were energized at a relatively high voltage (10 kV ∼) [14]- [16].…”

Enhancement in Gas Pumping in a Square Channel With Two-Stage Corona Wind Generator

“…In addition, in food industry, corona wind has become a novel method to enhance the drying process [4]- [6]. EHD actuators are used in the aerospace industry to reduce the drag of an aircraft or to stabilize the air flow [7]- [11]. In thermal management of electronic systems, corona wind can produce a substantial increase in the heat transfer coefficient [12]- [14].…”