Development of A Compact Synthetic Jet Generator Driven by Electromagnetic Micro Flap Actuator

Abstract

In this study, a compact synthetic jet generator using electromagnetic micro flap actuator as a driving mechanism is developed and tested. Firstly, the effects of flap's width and length on static and dynamic responses of the driving mechanism are numerically investigated. The results show significant effects of the flap length rather than width. In experiments, the electromagnetic micro flap actuators are fabricated, and the static and dynamic responses for 3 mm wide flaps with 6 and 7 mm long are examined using a high resolution photographing technique and capacitance probe. The significant differences in their static and dynamic responses are observed as expected. After assembling the electromagnetic flap actuator to the synthetic jet generator, its generated jet velocity is examined using CTA anemometer. The maximum jet velocity of 0.6-0.8 m/s at 2 mm downstream from its orifice is obtained at about 600 Hz driving frequency, and no significant effect of driving signal shape, namely sinusoidal and square signals, on the jet velocity is observed. In addition, the jet velocity is comparable to a synthetic jet generator driven by a diaphragm actuator.