Fluid flow and heat transfer of a two-dimensional offset jet with a plasma actuator

Abstract

This study is concerned with the active flow control of a two-dimensional offset jet using a dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuator (PA). The offset jet is produced by the flow of air that issues from the end of a long parallel channel, and the offset ratio H/h (H: step height, h: channel height) is 1.0. The PA is operated by a continuous sinusoidal waveform with a voltage of 6 kV and frequency of 2.0 kHz applied to the actuator electrode. The PA is installed on the lower wall of the jet exit. The exit Reynolds number Re is changed from 1.5 × 103 to 6.0 × 103. The flow at the channel exit is laminar. The wall static pressure and heat transfer coefficient on the offset plate are measured. The flow field is examined by flow visualization using a CCD high-speed camera, and the velocity profiles are measured using a particle image velocimetry system. In flow without control, clockwise and counter-clockwise vortices appear downstream of the reattachment point. When the PA is applied, these vortices disappear at a short distance from the reattachment point and a transition from laminar flow to turbulent flow occurs immediately. The reattachment length is reduced and the pressure loss is decreased. Nusselt number in the recirculating region increases with the induced flow due to the PA. These effects are remarkable at low Reynolds number flow. Downstream of the reattachment point, Nusselt number is smaller than that without the PA because turbulent diffusion is promoted.

Keywords

• offset jet
• plasma actuator
• pressure distribution
• heat transfer
• velocity profile