Method and apparatus of plasma flow control for drag reduction
AssigneeUniversity of Notre Dame du Lac
InventorsThomas C. Corke, Flint O. Thomas
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A plasma plate is used to minimize drag of a fluid flow over an exposed surface. The plasma plate includes a series of plasma actuators positioned on the surface. Each plasma actuator is made of a dielectric separating a first electrode exposed to a fluid flow and a second electrode separated from the fluid flow under the dielectric. A pulsed direct current power supply provides a first voltage to the first electrode and a second voltage to the second electrode. The series of plasma actuators is operably connected to a bus which distribute powers and is positioned to minimize flow disturbances. The plasma actuators are arranged into a series of linear rows such that a velocity component is imparted to the fluid flow.
Claims15
A plasma actuator array comprising:
- a plurality of plasma actuators positioned on a surface, each plasma actuator comprising:
- a dielectric;
- a first electrode exposed to a fluid flow, the fluid flow having a boundary layer with a boundary layer mean flow direction;
- a second electrode separated from the fluid flow by the dielectric;
- a pulsed direct current power supply providing a first voltage to the first electrode and a second voltage to the second electrode;
- and
- a bus operably connected to distribute power to the plasma actuators, positioned to minimize flow disturbances;
- wherein the plasma actuators are arranged into a series of linear rows, each of the linear rows aligned parallel to the boundary layer mean flow direction, such that a velocity component perpendicular to the boundary layer mean flow direction is imparted to the fluid flow close to the surface, and
- wherein the exposed first electrode is adapted to produce opposing spanwise blowing with a stagnation line in the space between neighboring covered second electrodes.
A method of reducing viscous drag due to attached turbulent boundary layer fluid flow on a surface comprising
- arranging an ordered series of plasma actuators, each plasma actuator with an exposed first electrode and a covered second electrode, to cover a surface under the turbulent boundary layer fluid flow to produce opposing spanwise blowing with a stagnation line in the space between neighboring covered second electrodes;
- energizing the ordered series of plasma actuators with a pulsed direct current power flow;
- imparting a velocity component to the fluid flow that is parallel to the surface and perpendicular to a mean flow direction of the fluid flow;
- and
- smoothing a distortion in the fluid flow produced by low-speed streaks to prevent streak transient growth instability and lift-up of the low-speed streaks from the surface and thereby to reduce viscous drag of the fluid flow across the surface.
A plasma actuator array comprising:
- a plurality of plasma actuators positioned on a surface, each plasma actuator comprising:
- a dielectric;
- a first electrode exposed to a fluid flow, the fluid flow having a boundary layer with a boundary layer mean flow direction;
- a second electrode separated from the fluid flow by the dielectric;
- a pulsed direct current power supply providing a first voltage to the first electrode and a second voltage to the second electrode;
- a bus operably connected to distribute power to the plasma actuators, positioned to minimize flow disturbances;
- and
- wherein the plasma actuators are arranged into a series of linear rows, each of the linear rows aligned parallel to the boundary layer mean flow direction, such that a velocity component perpendicular to the boundary layer mean flow direction is imparted to the fluid flow close to the surface,
- wherein the exposed first electrode is adapted to produce opposing spanwise blowing with a stagnation line in the space between neighboring covered second electrodes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.