An Approach to Suppress Flow Separation by Plasma Vortex Generator as a Combined Active and Passive Control Mechanism

Abstract

Flow control is an important issue in fluid mechanics and aerodynamics as separated flow introduce undesirable impact on overall system performance. Several active and passive techniques have been used to control the flow when necessary. But in passive control techniques, the actuator has to be fixed on the surface so that it can create vortices along streamline to enhance the mixing in the separated region to delay or suppress separation. Among passive flow control system vortex generators (VGs) are generally used but it control the flow with the cost of drag increase. It would be advantageous by combining both active and passive flow techniques together. In this regard plasma actuator (PA, active flow control device) and VGs are combined together with a view to not only suppress the separation but also minimizing the drag that could arise by using conventional passive control techniques. The combination flow control device is named as Plasma Vortex Generator (PVG) which proves its effectiveness to control separation as conventional VGs do but without any drag penalty.