Design of a pulsed jet actuator for separation control

Abstract

A pulsed jet actuator for separation control has been developed for application in a real-scale wind tunnel experiment with focus on separation behind the pylon-wing junction. This paper covers the last steps of hardware design and testing on the way to a successful demonstration of flow control at the pylon-wing junction. The concept of the actuator is based on fluidic technology and applies pulsed blowing without the help of moving parts. Design parameters are given by numerical simulations of the experimental application case and are validated in ground test. Results of these ground tests are presented and parameters for wind tunnel test settings are derived. The further evaluation of ground test results yields a relation of momentum coefficient, supply mass flow and wind tunnel velocities. It is shown that for the given wind tunnel experiment levels of constant momentum coefficient approximately coincide with levels of constant velocity ratio. All requirements with respect to flow control parameters and model geometry can be satisfied with the presented design, paving the way for a successful demonstration of flow control in a large-scale wind tunnel test.