Robust, Flexible and Lightweight Dielectric Barrier Discharge Actuators Using Nanofoams/Aerogels

Robust, flexible, lightweight, low profile enhanced performance dielectric barrier discharge actuators (plasma actuators) based on aerogels/nanofoams with controlled pore size and size distribution as well as pore shape. The plasma actuators offer high body force as well as high force to weight ratios (thrust density). The flexibility and mechanical robustness of the actuators allows them to be shaped to conform to the surface to which they are applied. Carbon nanotube (CNT) based electrodes serve to further decrease the weight and profile of the actuators while maintaining flexibility while insulating nano-inclusions in the matrix enable tailoring of the mechanical properties. Such actuators are required for flow control in aeronautics and moving machinery such as wind turbines, noise abatement in landing gear and rotary wing aircraft and other applications

Retrospective Cost Adaptive Flow Control Using a Dielectric Barrier Discharge Actuator

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/76651/1/AIAA-2009-5857-706.pd

Retrospective Cost Adaptive Flow Control Using a Dielectric Barrier Discharge Actuator with Parameter-Dependent Modeling

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/90730/1/AIAA-2011-1302-798.pd

Adaptive Flow Control of Low Reynolds Number Aerodynamics Using a Dielectric Barrier Discharge Actuator

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/77022/1/AIAA-2009-378-858.pd

Nonlinearity Identification and Flow Control for Low-Reynolds Number Aerodynamics with Unsteady Free-Stream

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/97137/1/AIAA2012-76.pd

Retrospective Cost Adaptive Control of Low-Reynolds Number Aerodynamics Using a Dielectric Barrier Discharge Actuator

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/83610/1/AIAA-2010-4841-142.pd

Geometry optimization of linear and annular plasma synthetic jet actuators

The Electro-Hydro-Dynamic (EHD) interaction induced in atmospheric-pressure air by a surface Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) actuator has been experimentally investigated. Plasma Synthetic Jets Actuators (PSJAs) are DBD actuators able to induce an air stream, perpendicular to the actuator surface. These devices can be used in the aerodynamics field to prevent or induce flow separation, modify the laminar to turbulent transition inside the boundary layer, and stabilize or mix air flows. They can also be used to enhance indirect plasma treatment effects, increasing the reactive species delivery rate onto surfaces and liquids. This can play a major role in plasma processing and chemical kinetics modelling, where only diffusive mechanisms are often considered. This paper reports on the importance that different electrode geometries can have on the performance of different PSJAs. A series of DBD aerodynamic actuators designed to produce perpendicular jets have been fabricated on 2-layer printed circuit boards (PCBs). Linear and annular geometries have been considered, testing different upper electrode distances in the linear case and different diameters in the annular one. AC voltage supplied at 11.5 kV peak and 5 kHz frequency has been used. Lower electrodes were connected to ground and buried in epoxy resin to avoid undesired plasma generation on the lower actuator surface. Voltage and current measurements have been carried out to evaluate the active power delivered to the discharges. Schlieren imaging allowed to visualize the induced jets and gave an estimate of their evolution and geometry. Pitot tube measurements were performed to obtain the PSJAs’ velocity profiles and to estimate the mechanical power delivered to the fluid. Optimal values of the inter-electrode distance and diameter have been found in order to maximize jet velocity, mechanical power or efficiency. Annular geometries are found to achieve the best performances

Boundary layer control by means of DBD plasma actuators

In this thesis a new aerodynamic model to simulate the behavior of Dielectric Barrier Discharge actuator has been studied. For this task, two different models have been merged in order to provide a more accurate one. The model has been implemented using commercial computational fluid dynamics software through builtin tools. Different configurations have been followed up in order to validate the model. During this validation, the phenomena ocurring in the different configurations has been studied, remarking on the ability of the modelled devices to have an effect on low-speed flows, with different extent. The model has the aim of improving and easing the computational side of this actuators, that tend to couple electric, fluid an kinetic phenomena; with the scope of investigating its potential in different applications in a simpler way.Ingeniería Aeroespacia