Contribution of Plasma Control Technology for Aerodynamic Applications

Abstract

Summary: During these past ten years, plasma actuators have been envisaged to control air flows. Usually, two main kinds of plasma actuators are available: the DC discharge actuator and the dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) actuator, but also some combinations of both systems are now being studied. In this paper we present the results obtained with these different kinds of actuators. The control parameters, the electrical behaviors, and the mechanical efficiencies of the actuators are given. Aerodynamic experiments have been made in several wind tunnels using Particle Image Velocimetry (P.I.V.), visualization, Laser Dopler Velocimetry and special “Pitot” tube techniques. Advantages and disadvantages of each actuator are discussed, and finally some aerodynamic applications are shown.

Microplasmas: Sources, Particle Kinetics, and Biomedical Applications

“…Corona discharges can be classified based on their polarity and frequency of excitation 90. DC coronas are used in flow control applications,38 whereas RF coronas have been suggested for biomedical applications115, 116 and material processing 111, 117. Despite the fact that corona discharges tend to be weak, the amount of radicals produced can be sufficient for some applications.…”

“…Since then, microplasma research has grown very rapidly, as evidenced by the increasing number of publications,4–8 the organisation of an International Workshop on Microplasmas,9 and the appearance of dedicated sections in major international plasma conferences. The continued research has broadened the application spectrum of microplasmas, which has included bio‐medical applications,10–15 displays,16 radiation sources,17–20 micro‐chemical analysis systems,21, 22 gas analyzers,23, 24 photodetectors,25 microlasers,26 dynamic millimetre and microwave devices,27–29 microreactors,30–34 propulsion systems,35–37 aerodynamic flow control,38, 39 material processing,40–44 and environmental applications 14, 45, 46…”

Carbon Nanotube Synthesis in Atmospheric Pressure Glow Discharge: A Review

“…A peculiarity of DBDs is the presence of a dielectric insulator on one or both metallic electrodes, which engenders formation of numerous filamentary microdischarges of nanosecond duration, with sizes around 10–100 µm. Although the DBD has been used historically in the ozone industry since its initial discovery in 1857,1 it is now recognized as a viable processing plasma in various applications such as waste gas cleaning, excimer light sources,1 chemical synthesis,1 aerodynamic actuators,2–4 and biomedical sterilization 5–7. In the late 1980s, Okazaki and co‐workers developed an atmospheric pressure diffuse barrier discharge, which they designated as atmospheric pressure glow discharge (APG), which provided spatially uniform transient non‐equilibrium plasma at atmospheric pressure 8–11…”

Surface potential distribution and airflow performance of different air-exposed electrode plasma actuators at different alternating current/direct current voltages

“…As a result, the electric wind induced by the momentum transfer plays a key role in reducing drag, increasing lift force, 3 improving airflow reattachment, modifying the separation, [4][5][6] as well as resisting the turbulence and laminar-toturbulent transition. 7 Thus, the issue of airflow active control by SDBD 1,2,[8][9][10][11][12][13][14] has been considered to be one of the most promising strategies of aerodynamics.…”