Flow control with plasma‐based actuator in different velocity regimes: Momentum and heat transfer effects

Abstract

AbstractIn this study, control of the airflow by the direct current (DC) electrical discharge with bare electrodes has been investigated in different velocity regimes. The discharge characteristics of the plasma model are obtained numerically. An induced electrohydrodynamic (EHD) force on neutral flow was characterized based on momentum transfer from charged particles. The change in the incident flow parameters was studied by applying Navier–Stokes (N‐S) equations, considering source terms arising from a weakly ionized plasma. The effect of the discharge on the low‐ and high‐speed flow was simulated in this study. It was concluded that the changes of the velocity profile, airflow pressure, and oblique shock wave could be attributed to the EHD force from a nonthermal plasma to the incoming airflow. It was seen that the incident airflow is accelerated also by the induced EHD force. Our results show that the most important mechanism in the plasma‐based flow control is the momentum transfer from the electrical discharge to the incident flow and that the gas heating has no significant role.