Plasma flow control inside the S-duct

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This study combines experimental and numerical methods to explore an innovative application of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma flow control in a low-speed S-duct. S-ducts are widely used in modern aerospace and turbine equipment; however, their complex geometries make them susceptible to flow separation and stall. Therefore, enhancing internal flow stability is always a critical research focus. As an emerging active flow control technique, DBD plasma flow control generates wall jets or vortices to improve flow characteristics, offering advantages such as no mechanical wear, low power consumption, and rapid response compared to traditional control methods. However, constrained by an incomplete understanding of the physical properties of plasma to date, its application has been widely limited to simple geometries. This study aims to expand the applicability of DBD plasma flow control to more complex structures. The results indicate that, at a flow velocity in the duct of approximately 20 m/s, the plasma actuator, acting as a wall jet, can effectively modify the velocity distribution within the duct. However, this effect is relatively limited when reflected in pressure variations. This research demonstrates the potential of DBD plasma actuators in complex flow environments and provides essential experimental and simulation references for future studies.