Turbulent flow drag reduction
AssigneeBAE SYSTEMS plc
InventorsSimon J. Scott, Graham A. Johnson, Edward Thornton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to apparatus for influencing fluid flow over a surface, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to turbulent boundary layer flow drag reduction for an aircraft. The present invention provides such apparatus including a plasma generator comprising first and second spaced-apart independently controllable electrodes operable to cause a change in direction of the flow of the fluid over the surface.
Claims11
Apparatus for influencing fluid flow over a surface, the apparatus including a plasma generator that comprises a flexible-sheet dielectric that supports first and second electrodes on a first side thereof and that supports a third electrode on a second side thereof, the first and second sides being generally opposed, wherein:
- each of the first and second electrodes comprise a plurality of electrically-connected elongate elements arranged such that the elongate elements are interdigitated;
- the first and second electrodes are independently controllable and are operable to cause a change in direction of the flow of the fluid over the surface;
- and
- the plasma generator is operable to drive the first and second electrodes alternately.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.