Experimental Investigation on the Characteristics of Sliding Discharge Plasma Aerodynamic Actuation

• Published in: Plasma science & technology 2011-10, Vol.13 (5), p.608-611
• Main Author: 宋慧敏 李应红 张乔根 贾敏 吴云
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 介质阻挡放电; 实验; 放电等离子体; 气动驱动; 流量控制; 滑动; 空气动力特性; 粒子图像测速
• ISSN: 1009-0630
• DOI: 10.1088/1009-0630/13/5/19

A new electrical discharge called sliding discharge was developed to generate plasma aerodynamic actuation for flow control. A microsecond-pulse high voltage with a DC component was used to energize a three-electrode actuator to generate sliding discharge. The characteristics of plasma aerodynamic actuation by sliding discharge were experimentally investigated. Discharge morphology shows that sliding discharge is formed when energized by properly adjusting microsecond-pulse and DC voltage. Compared to dielectric barrier discharge （DBD）, the plasma extension of sliding discharge is quasi-diffusive and stable but longer and more intensive. Results from particle image velocimetry （PIV） test indicate that plasma aerodynamic actuation by sliding discharge can induce a ＇starting vortex＇ and a quasi-steady ＇near-wall jet＇. Body force induced by plasma aerodynamic actuation is about the order of mN, which is stronger than that induced by single DBD. It is inferred that microsecond-pulse sliding discharge may be more effective to generate large-scale plasma aerodynamic actuation, which is very promising for improving aircraft aerodynamic characteristics and propulsion efficiency.