Boundary layer suction

Boundary layer suction[1][2] is a boundary layer control technique in which an air pump is used to
extract the boundary layer at the wing[3] or the inlet of an aircraft. Improving the air flow can reduce
drag. Improvements in fuel efficiency have been estimated as high as 30%.

Contents
The boundary layer
Use of suction
See also
References
External links

The boundary layer

The air molecules at the surface of a wing are effectively stationary (see the no-slip condition). If the
flow is smooth, known as laminar flow, the velocity of the air increases steadily as measurements are
taken further away from the surface. However the smooth flow is often disturbed by the boundary layer
breaking away from the surface and creating a low pressure region immediately behind the airfoil (see
flow separation). This low pressure region results in increased overall drag. Attempts have been made
over the years to delay the onset of this flow separation by careful design and smooth surfaces.

Use of suction
As flow separation results from the velocity deficit that is characteristic of boundary layers, suction
attempts to remove the boundary layer from the surface before it can separate. The technology was first
developed by Werner Pfenninger in the Second World War and has been researched almost continuously
since. In the 1960s, NASA experimented with this concept with the Northrop X-21, a converted Douglas
WB-66D. In the 1990s tests [1] (http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/pdf/88653main_H-2382.pdf) were
done by NASA with an F-16XL.

Loek Boermans is researching the technology for use in gliders at the Technical University of Delft.
However about 500 watts of power would be needed to drive the pumps and this would mean covering
the glider with solar panels and would increase the cost greatly. There are also structural problems to be
overcome before the ultimate glider could be manufactured.

See also
The pusher configuration is an alternative way to re-energize the boundary layer, but is only
used on the fuselage.
NASA F-16XL research aircraft
 Vortex generator
aerodynamics
Boundary layer control
Circulation control wing
Turbulator

References
1. Huang, L.; Huang, P. G.; LeBeau, R. P.; Hauser, T. (2004-09-01). "Numerical Study of
Blowing and Suction Control Mechanism on NACA0012 Airfoil". Journal of Aircraft. 41 (5):
1005–1013. doi:10.2514/1.2255 (https://doi.org/10.2514%2F1.2255). ISSN 0021-8669 (http
s://www.worldcat.org/issn/0021-8669).
2. Yousefi, Kianoosh; Saleh, Reza; Zahedi, Peyman (2014-04-01). "Numerical study of
blowing and suction slot geometry optimization on NACA 0012 airfoil" (http://hal.archives-ou
vertes.fr/hal-01590680/file/article.pdf) (PDF). Journal of Mechanical Science and
Technology. 28 (4): 1297–1310. doi:10.1007/s12206-014-0119-1 (https://doi.org/10.1007%2
Fs12206-014-0119-1). ISSN 1738-494X (https://www.worldcat.org/issn/1738-494X).
3. Yousefi, Kianoosh; Saleh, Reza (2015-06-01). "Three-dimensional suction flow control and
suction jet length optimization of NACA 0012 wing" (http://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01590
679/file/article.pdf) (PDF). Meccanica. 50 (6): 1481–1494. doi:10.1007/s11012-015-0100-9
(https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs11012-015-0100-9). ISSN 0025-6455 (https://www.worldcat.or
g/issn/0025-6455).

External links
DGflugzeugbau article (https://web.archive.org/web/20060523115337/http://www.dg-flugzeu
gbau.de/leistung-e.html)
NASA report on F16 program (http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/pdf/88653main_H-2382.
pdf)
combination (https://web.archive.org/web/20070118223025/http://www.iag.uni-stuttgart.de/tr
ansition/publications/trans_publ-200Xwww.htm) of vortex generator with suction

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This page was last edited on 13 June 2019, at 14:51 (UTC).

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