Tip Leakage Vortex Control in a Low Speed Axial Compressor Using Pulsed Plasma Actuation

Abstract

Plasma actuation is a novel method for axial compressor flow control with advantages of short response time and broad frequency range. Numerical simulation of tip leakage vortex control in a low speed axial compressor with pulsed plasma actuation is performed. Millisecond pulsed dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuation with different frequencies are generated on the inner wall of compressor casing at the rotor leading edge. Scale adaptive hybrid Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes/large eddy simulation method based on shear stress transport turbulence model is adopted. The plasma actuation is simplified as a body force in the simulation. Results show that the frequency has a strong influence on the control effect of pulsed plasma actuation. Pulsed plasma actuation with frequency of 0.25 blade passing frequency (BPF), 0.5 BPF and 1.0 BPF extend the compressor’s stability range effectively. The mechanism is tip leakage vortex oscillation in the stream wise direction through coupling between unsteady plasma actuation and tip leakage flow. However, pulsed plasma actuation with frequency of 0.125 BPF, 2 BPF and 3 BPF fails to improve the stability range. The mechanism of pulsed plasma actuation at 2 BPF and 3 BPF is similar to that with steady plasma actuation, which is only stream wise boundary layer acceleration. The oscillation of tip leakage vortex in the stream wise direction can’t occur. For the pulsed plasma actuation at 0.125 BPF, its frequency is too low to get enough control effect.