Dielectric barrier discharge wind tunnel
AssigneeUniversity of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
InventorSubrata Roy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments of the subject invention are directed to methods and apparatus for inducing fluid flow in a wind tunnel using one or more plasma actuators. In an embodiment, a wind tunnel is provided having a flow passage. A pair of electrodes is positioned on at least one surface of the flow passage, and a voltage potential is applied across the pair of electrodes producing a plasma discharge in the flow passage. In an embodiment, the pair of electrodes is positioned on the at least one surface of the flow passage such that when the plasma discharge is produced an electrohydrodynamic (EHD) body force is generated that induces flow of a fluid in the flow passage.
Claims34
A method of applying a fluid flow to a test subject, comprising:
- providing a wind tunnel comprising a flow passage having at least one surface;
- providing a pair of electrodes, wherein each electrode of the pair of electrodes is positioned on or proximate one or more of the at least one surface;
- introducing a fluid into the flow passage;
- applying a voltage potential across the pair of electrodes to produce a plasma discharge in the flow passage, such that when the plasma discharge is produced an electrohydrodynamic body force is generated that induces a fluid flow within the flow passage;
- and
- positioning the test subject in a path of the fluid flow.
A wind tunnel, comprising:
- a flow passage having at least one surface;
- a pair of electrodes;
- and
- a power supply configured to apply a voltage potential across the pair of electrodes to produce a plasma discharge in the flow passage when a fluid is in the flow passage,
- wherein each electrode of the pair of electrodes is positioned on or proximate the at least one surface of the flow passage such that when the plasma discharge is produced an electrohydrodynamic body force is generated that induces a fluid flow within the flow passage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.