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ACTIVE FLOW CONTROL

USING DIELECTRIC BARRIER
PLASMA ACTUATORS

SURVEY PAPER PRESENTATION

SL Azhar Abbas
MS-12
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BACKGROUND
• Initial research by USSR with application in weakening of
shock waves in 1985
• “Plasma Magic” resurfaced as promising research area in
Mid 1990s
• Low weight, Low profile, No moving parts, Energy efficient,
Durable, High amplitude, Wide Bandwidth, and Rapid
Response Actuators
• Two decades of active research with wide ranging
applications across Aerospace arena
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INTRODUCTION
• What is Plasma Actuation
― Ionized air via High voltage
― Manipulates momentum in the boundary layer
• What is a Dielectric Barrier Plasma Actuator
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BODY FORCE CALCULATION

Control Volume

Momentum Equation
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CHARACTERIZATION OF DBDPA
• Discharge Current
― Streamers during Positive half of AC Cycle
― Glow like discharge in negative Cycle
• Plasma Extension
― Limited due charge deposition on the dielectric surface
• Power Dissipation
• EHD Force
― Dependent on Power and Frequency
• Ionic Wind Velocity
― Applied voltage and dielectric
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FLOW CONTROL APPLICATIONS
• Studies carried out in Experimental and Computational
Domains
― Experimental Studies
• Transition Delay (2017) – Delayed transition for Re 3X106 by 2-3%
• Separation Control (2018) – Reattachment of flow
• Vortex Shedding Control (2006) – Unsteady wake manipulation
• Lean Flame Stability (2017) – Lean Blow Out air flow mass
increment
• Icing Control (2017) – Removal of icing layer
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FLOW CONTROL APPLICATIONS
― Computational Studies
• Numerical Model for DBDPA using RANS code (2014) – Close match
with experimental results for simpler geometries
• Load Alleviation on Compressor Blades (2018) – Considerable
reduction in blade fatigue
• Numerical Modeling of Coanda Effect (2014) – Thrust vectoring
• Control of Travelling Cross Flow Vortices (2018) – Reduction in drag
due to CFVs in Delta wings
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FUTURE SCOPE
• Combustion Efficiency– Flame control, volumetric ignition,
Turbulent combustion
• Flow control over aerodynamic surfaces – on and off
surface applications
• Application to hypersonic vehicles – Re-entry heating
control
• Shock wave control using surface plasma actuators
• LASER Plasma Ignition
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CONCLUSION
• Plasma actuation – an obvious choice for active flow
control and combustion efficiency
• Vast research data available to understand physics and
performance of DBDPA
• Continuous need for research to improve upon deployment
of technology in aerospace industry as alternative to
conventional methods
• Wide ranging flow control applications in both
experimental and computational domains
• Future potential in all aerospace related fields
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REFEENCES
• Elaborated in Survey Paper draft
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QUESTIONS