Open Access

ARTICLE

An Experimental Study Of An Electroaerodynamic Actuator

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1 Ecole, Nationale d’Ingénieurs de Monastir, Avenue Ibn El Jazzar, Monastir 5000, Tunisia.

Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing 2010, 6(4), 409-418. https://doi.org/10.3970/fdmp.2010.006.409

Abstract

The electroaerodynamic actuator or plasma actuator uses the characteristics of the non-thermal surface plasmas. These plasmas are created in atmospheric pressure by a DC electrical corona discharge at the surface of a dielectric material. The two electrodes are two conductive parallel wires. The applied voltage is of several kilovolts. The corona discharge creates a tangential electric wind that can modify the boundary layer flow properties. In this paper, we present the results found for two geometric configurations: the flat plate and the cylinder. In order to study the discharge specificity, we have found the current- voltage characteristics for different inter-electrode gaps, different dielectric materials and for different values of air relative humidity. Moreover, we present the curves of linear current density- electric field. All these measurements are carried out when the discharge is stable without any spark. We show some photos that illustrate the steady discharge types. At last, we quantify the aerodynamic aspect of the discharge by giving the ionic wind velocity profile of the discharge at the surface of the dielectric obstacle.

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