Plasma actuators are a type of actuator currently being developed for active aerodynamic flow control. Plasma actuators impart force in a similar way to ionocraft. Plasma flow control has drawn considerable attention and been used in boundary layer acceleration, airfoil separation control, forebody separation control, turbine blade separation control, axial compressor stability extension, heat transfer and high-speed jet control.
Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) plasma actuators are widely utilized in airflow control applications.[2] DBD is a type of electrical discharge commonly used in various Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) applications.[1]
In DBDs, the emitter electrode is connected to a high-voltage source and exposed to the surrounding air, while the collector electrode is grounded and encapsulated within the dielectric material (see figure). When activated, they form a low-temperature plasma between the electrodes by application of a high-voltage AC signal across the electrodes. Consequently, air molecules from the air surrounding the emitter electrode are ionized, and are accelerated towards the counter electrode through the electric field.[1]
- ^ a b c Iranshahi, Kamran; Defraeye, Thijs; Rossi, Rene M. (2024). "Electrohydrodynamics and its applications: Recent advances and future perspectives". International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer. 232. doi:10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2024.125895. hdl:20.500.11850/683872.
- ^ Erfani, R. (2012). OPTIMISATION OF DIELECTRIC BARRIER DISCHARGE PLASMA ACTUATORS AND THEIR APPLICATION TO FLUID DYNAMICS (PDF). University of Manchester.