Flow control by dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuators for a rectangular jet with inlet disturbance

Abstract

Direct numerical simulations were performed to examine the control mechanism of a plasma actuator using a dielectric barrier discharge in a rectangular jet with an inlet disturbance. The nozzle has a ratio of 75–10 mm, while the Reynolds number is 3300, and the peak frequency near the nozzle exit is 55 Hz. The jet is controlled by the actuators with conditions of 55 Hz burst frequency, 10% duty ratio, and π phase difference between the upper and lower actuators. The flow field spreads downstream more than that without control. Moreover, the controlling mechanism generates a vortex by inducing flow from the actuator, which grows in size by merging with other vortices generated upstream. Furthermore, the induced flows generate vortices on the upper and lower shear layers that grow in opposite phases of π, and these vortices cause upward and downward flow, respectively, thereby accelerating the spread of the jet. The vortex generated by the induced flow can grow due to its low-streamwise velocity. This occurs regardless of the inlet disturbance because the streakline from the induced flow moves downward near the nozzle surface, causing a rapid decrease in the streamwise velocity after the actuator is stopped. Thus, the actuator's control effect can be explained by the momentary change in the location of the streaklines around it.