Surface velocity model of the flow caused by a DBD plasma actuator

Abstract

The surface velocity model is proposed for modelling the flow caused by a DBD plasma actuator. While numerical model presented up to now for the DBD plasma actuator, i.e. Suzen’s model, needs to calibrate the five parameters that must be determined by comparison with the experimental results, the surface velocity model presented here requires calibrating three parameters only. The flow by the surface velocity model is compared with the experimental results and that of Suzen’s model. When DBD plasma actuators are activated on the surface of the flat plate or on that of the circular cylinder, the induced flow appears near the electrode. And then the temporal and spatial development of the flow by the surface velocity model is consistent with the results from the experiment and the Suzen’s model. The surface velocity model is very easy to use compared with the Suzen’s model, and it can well simulate the induced flow caused by the plasma actuator.

Keywords

• dbd plasma actuator
• numerical simulation
• numerical model
• induced flow
• flow control