System, apparatus, program product, and related methods for providing boundary layer flow control

An apparatus for controlling boundary layer flow across an aerodynamic structure, the apparatus comprising:

• a dielectric-barrier-discharge electrode assembly integrated with a surface of an aerodynamic structure, the electrode assembly comprising:
• an insulating dielectric layer having an environmental fluid facing surface defining a top surface and an aerodynamic structure facing surface defining an bottom surface,
• a first electrode layer positioned in contact with the top surface of the insulating dielectric layer and having a plurality of oblong voids extending therethrough, each oblong void substantially completely surrounded by a portion of the first electrode layer, the portion of the first electrode substantially completely surrounding each respective one of the plurality of oblong voids substantially defining a perimeter of an extent of the respective oblong void, the perimeter of each oblong void being substantially pill shaped, a surface area of the top surface of the insulating dielectric layer within the perimeter of each respective oblong void defining a void area for the respective oblong void, and
• a second electrode layer comprising a plurality of separate and spaced apart oblong electrodes defining a plurality of secondary electrodes positioned in contact with the bottom surface of the insulating dielectric layer so that the insulating dielectric layer is positioned between at least substantial portions of the first electrode layer and each of the plurality of spaced apart secondary electrodes, each of the plurality of secondary electrodes positioned beneath a separate one of the plurality of oblong voids to complement the respective separate one of the plurality of oblong voids and positioned laterally substantially within confines of a normal extending along the perimeter of the respective complementing separate one of the plurality of oblong voids, each secondary electrode including a dielectric layer-facing surface being substantially pill shaped, a surface area of an entire extent of the dielectric layer-facing surface for the respective secondary electrode being substantially smaller than the void area of the associated complementing oblong void,
• the portion of the first electrode defining the perimeter of the extent of the respective oblong void, the complementing secondary electrode associated therewith, and a respective adjacent portion of the dielectric layer positioned between the surrounding portion of the first electrode and the complementing secondary electrode forming a separate active plasma region of a plurality of active plasma regions, each plasma region dimensioned so that when activated the respective plasma region functions to impart a net velocity to the surrounding environmental fluid which is primarily substantially normal to the portion of the dielectric layer immediately below the respective oblong void;
• and
• a controller configured to perform the operations of:
• determining a level of turbulence of the boundary layer flow across at least portions of the aerodynamic structure, and
• selectively adjusting a pattern of activated plasma regions to thereby effectively adjust spacing between active plasma regions responsive to variations in the level of turbulence, decreasing the effective spacing between activated plasma regions when encountering boundary layer flow having a higher Reynolds chord number than a certain value and increasing the effective spacing between activated plasma regions when encountering boundary layer flow having a lower Reynolds chord number than the certain value.

A method of controlling boundary layer flow across an airfoil, the method comprising the steps of:

• applying a first electrode layer to a first surface of an insulating dielectric layer defining a top surface of the insulating dielectric layer, the first electrode layer configured with a plurality of oblong voids extending therethrough, each oblong void substantially completely surrounded by a portion of the first electrode layer, the portion of the first electrode substantially completely surrounding each respective one of the plurality of oblong voids substantially defining a perimeter of an extent of the respective oblong void;
• and
• applying a second electrode layer to a second surface of the insulating dielectric layer opposite the first surface defining a bottom surface of the insulating dielectric layer, the second electrode layer shaped to form a plurality of separate and spaced apart oblong electrodes defining a plurality of secondary electrodes, each of the plurality of secondary electrodes positioned beneath a separate one of the plurality of oblong voids to complement the respective separate one of the plurality of oblong voids and positioned laterally substantially within confines of a normal extending along the perimeter of the respective complementing oblong void;
• the portion of the first electrode defining the perimeter of the extent of the respective oblong void, the complementing secondary electrode associated therewith, and a respective adjacent portion of the dielectric layer located between the surrounding portion of the first electrode and the complementing secondary electrode forming a separate active plasma region of a plurality of active plasma regions of a dielectric-barrier-discharge electrode assembly, each plasma region dimensioned so that when activated the respective plasma region functions to impart a net velocity to the surrounding environmental fluid having a substantial vertical component normal to and extending away from the portion of the top surface of dielectric layer within the respective oblong void.