These surface compliant plasma actuators develop high thrust, reducing aerodynamic eddies and decreasing drag to improve fuel efficiency in planes, automobiles, and heavy vehicles. Extreme tempera¬tures, sudden changes in atmospheric pressure, poor weather conditions and other factors can impair these vehicles' speed and efficiency. Plasma actuators, a possible solution, could replace traditional aerodynamic flow control devices, such as vortex generators or ailerons. Until now, however, plasma actuators have not produced adequate thrust at low power. University of Florida researchers have developed plasma actuators that use a flow entrainment and magnetic field to enhance thrust performance. These improved actuators are well suited for a wide variety of applications. They reduce drag on planes and increase pilot control during a stall. They can also boost motor vehicles' fuel efficiency and serve as efficient thrusters on space vehicles.
Plasma actuators for better aerodynamic performance by aerospace and automotive vehicles
Plasma actuators use electrodes and a dielectric layer to create a charged gas (plasma) plume that creates thrust in a specific direction. The amount of thrust an actuator produces is limited, in part, by the amount of ionization near the electrode surface. These actuators use a magnetic field to trap electrons near the electrode, increasing ionization and thrust to usable levels. The design capitalizes on fluid flow entrainment to direct the induced jet away from the wall, increasing the effective thrust while reducing the shear stress on the surface in the proximity of a plasma actuator.