Experimental Thermal Characterization of DBD Plasma Actuators

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. F. Rodrigues ◽  
J. C. Pascoa ◽  
M. Trancossi
Keyword(s):  
Electric Fields ◽  
Thermal Behaviour ◽  
Film Cooling ◽  
Active Flow Control ◽  
Thermal Characteristics ◽  
Dielectric Materials ◽  
Fast Response ◽  
Plasma Actuators ◽  
Total Power ◽  
Dbd Plasma

DBD plasma actuators have several applications within the field of active flow control. Separation control, wake control, aircraft noise reduction, modification of velocity fluctuations or boundary layer control are just some examples of their applications. They present several attractive features such as, their simple construction, very low mass, fast response, low power consumption and robustness. Besides their aerodynamic applications, these devices have also possible applications within the field of heat transfer, for example film cooling applications. However, due to the extremely high electric fields in the plasma region and consequent impossibility of applying intrusive techniques, there is a relative lack of information about DBDs thermal characteristics. In an attempt to contradict this scenario, this work describes the thermal behaviour of DBD plasma actuators. The total power consumed, the fraction of power that is dissipated as heat energy and the dielectric temperature variation due to the plasma operation are some parameters with great interest in any plasma actuator applications. Thus, these parameters were quantified and the results were presented and discussed. Infra-red thermography measurements were performed in order to obtain the temperature distribution of the dielectric layer. During this work we analysed DBD plasma actuators with different dielectric thicknesses and also with different dielectric materials, whose thermal behaviour was not reported in the literature yet. Conclusions were taken in order to extend the fundamental knowledge on the thermal aspects of the DBD plasma actuators.

Comparative Evaluation of Dielectric Materials for Plasma Actuators Active Flow Control and Heat Transfer Applications

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. F. Rodrigues ◽  
J. Nunes-Pereira ◽  
M. Abdollahzadeh ◽  
J. Pascoa ◽  
S. Lanceros-Mendez
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Flow Control ◽  
Dielectric Layer ◽  
Active Flow Control ◽  
Thermal Power ◽  
Dielectric Materials ◽  
Plasma Actuators ◽  
Dbd Plasma ◽  
Control Applications ◽  
Active Flow

Abstract Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) plasma actuators are simple devices with great potential for active flow control applications. Further, it has been recently proven their ability for applications in the area of heat transfer, such as film cooling of turbine blades or ice removal. The dielectric material used in the fabrication of these devices is essential in determining the device performance. However, the variety of dielectric materials studied in the literature is very limited and the majority of the authors only use Kapton, Teflon, Macor ceramic or poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). Furthermore, several authors reported difficulties in the durability of the dielectric layer when the actuators operate at high voltage and frequency. Also, it has been reported that, after long operation time, the dielectric layer suffers degradation due to its exposure to plasma discharge, degradation that may lead to the failure of the device. Considering the need of durable and robust actuators, as well as the need of higher flow control efficiencies, it is highly important to develop new dielectric materials which may be used for plasma actuator fabrication. In this context, the present study reports on the experimental testing of dielectric materials which can be used for DBD plasma actuators fabrication. Plasma actuators fabricated of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and polystyrene (PS) have been fabricated and evaluated. Although these dielectric materials are not commonly used as dielectric layer of plasma actuators, their interesting electrical and dielectric properties and the possibility of being used as sensors, indicate their suitability as potential alternatives to the standard used materials. The plasma actuators produced with these nonstandard dielectric materials were analyzed in terms of electrical characteristics, generated flow velocity and mechanical efficiency, and the obtained results were compared with a standard actuator made of Kapton. An innovative calorimetric method was implemented in order to estimate the thermal power transferred by these devices to an adjacent flow. These results allowed to discuss the ability of these new dielectric materials not only for flow control applications but also for heat transfer applications.

Experimental Analysis of Alternative Dielectric Materials for DBD Plasma Actuators

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. F. Rodrigues ◽  
J. C. Pascoa ◽  
M. Trancossi
Keyword(s):  
Dielectric Material ◽  
Experimental Testing ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Active Flow Control ◽  
Dielectric Strength ◽  
Dielectric Materials ◽  
Plasma Actuators ◽  
Poly Lactic Acid ◽  
Dbd Plasma ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages

Dielectric Barrier Discharge plasma actuators are simple devices with great potential for active flow control applications. They have very interesting features which have made them a topic of interest for many researchers, for instance they present very low mass, fast response time, low cost, easy implementation and they are fully electronic with no moving parts. The dielectric material used in the construction of these devices present an important role in their performance. The variety of dielectrics studied in the literature is very restrict and the majority of the authors make use of Kapton, Teflon, Macor ceramic or PMMA. Furthermore, several authors reported difficulties in the durability of the dielectric layer when actuators operate at high levels of voltage and frequency. Considering this background, the present study focus on the experimental testing of alternative dielectric materials which can be used for DBD plasma actuators fabrication. Considering this, plasma actuators with dielectric layers made of Poly-Isobutylene rubber, Poly-Lactic acid and Acetoxy Silicon were experimentally tested. Although these dielectric materials are not commonly used in plasma actuators, their values of dielectric strength and dielectric permittivity indicate they can be good solutions. The plasma actuators facbricated with these alternative dielectric materials were experimentally analysed in terms of electrical characteristics and induced flow velocity, and the obtained results were compared with an actuator made of Kapton which is, currently, the most common dielectric material for plasma actuators. The effectiveness of the actuators was estimated and the advantages and disadvantages of the use of each dielectric material were discussed.

scholarly journals Experimental Study of Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma Actuators for Active Flow Control

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel André Barbosa Moreira ◽  
Frederico Miguel Freire Rodrigues ◽  
José Carlos Páscoa Marques
Keyword(s):  
Flow Control ◽  
Dielectric Barrier Discharge ◽  
Barrier Discharge ◽  
Active Flow Control ◽  
Dielectric Materials ◽  
Plasma Actuators ◽  
Dbd Plasma ◽  
Dielectric Barrier ◽  
Suitable Material ◽  
Active Flow

The objective of this study is to compare the effect of varying the material used as dielectric layer on the properties of the plasma actuators themselves. The experiments have shown that actuators with a PIB dielectric have a lower power consumption, can achieve higher velocities and have a better mechanical efficiency, but are more prone to failure due to breakdown of the dielectric. We verified that PIB rubber is a suitable material for DBD plasma actuators fabrication presenting several interesting features. Keywords: Active flow control, Plasma actuators, Dielectric barrier discharge, Dielectric materials

Experimental Analysis of Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma Actuators Thermal Characteristics Under External Flow Influence

2018 ◽  
Vol 140 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
F. F. Rodrigues ◽  
J. C. Pascoa ◽  
M. Trancossi
Keyword(s):  
Temperature Distribution ◽  
Thermal Behavior ◽  
Dielectric Barrier Discharge ◽  
Barrier Discharge ◽  
Thermal Characteristics ◽  
External Flow ◽  
Plasma Actuators ◽  
Plasma Region ◽  
Dbd Plasma ◽  
Dielectric Barrier

Dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma actuators have several applications within the field of active flow control. Separation control, wake control, aircraft noise reduction, modification of velocity fluctuations, or boundary layer control are just some examples of their applications. They present several attractive features such as their simple construction, very low mass, fast response, low power consumption, and robustness. Besides their aerodynamic applications, these devices have also possible applications within the field of heat transfer, for example film cooling applications or ice formation prevention. However, due to the extremely high electric fields in the plasma region and consequent impossibility of applying classic intrusive techniques, there is a relative lack of information about DBDs thermal characteristics. In an attempt to overcome this scenario, this work describes the thermal behavior of DBD plasma actuators under different flow conditions. Infra-red thermography measurements were performed in order to obtain the temperature distribution of the dielectric layer and also of the exposed electrode. During this work, we analyzed DBD plasma actuators with different dielectric thicknesses and also with different dielectric materials, whose thermal behavior is reported for the first time. The results allowed to conclude that the temperature distribution is not influenced by the dielectric thickness, but it changes when the actuator operates under an external flow. We also verified that, although in quiescent conditions the exposed electrode temperature is higher than the plasma region temperature, the main heat energy dissipation occurs in the dielectric, more specifically in the plasma formation region.

Test Conditions for Performance Characterization of Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) Plasma Actuators for Active Flow Control in Jet Engines

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
David E. Ashpis ◽  
Douglas R. Thurman
Keyword(s):  
Flow Control ◽  
Dielectric Barrier Discharge ◽  
Barrier Discharge ◽  
Active Flow Control ◽  
Plasma Actuators ◽  
Dbd Plasma ◽  
Dielectric Barrier ◽  
Jet Engine ◽  
Active Flow

Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) plasma actuators for active flow control in the jet engine need to be tested in the laboratory to characterize their performance at flight operating conditions. DBD plasma actuators generate a wall-jet electronically by creating weakly ionized plasma, therefore their performance is affected by gas discharge properties, which in turn depend on the pressure and temperature at the actuator placement location. Characterization of actuators is initially performed in a laboratory chamber without external flow. It is usually impractical to simultaneously set engine pressures and temperatures in a chamber, and a simplified approach is desired. It is assumed that the plasma discharge depends only on the gas density. Other temperature effects are assumed to be negligible. Therefore, tests can be performed at room temperature with chamber pressure set to yield the same density as in engine operating flight conditions. Engine data was obtained from four generic engine models; 300-, 150-, and 50-Passenger (PAX) aircraft engines, and a military jet-fighter engine. The static and total pressure, temperature, and density distributions along the engine were calculated for sea-level takeoff and altitude cruise, and the chamber pressures needed to test the actuators were calculated. The results show that testing has to be performed over a wide range of pressures from 12.4 to 0.03 atm, depending on the application. For example, if a DBD plasma actuator is to be placed at the compressor exit of a 300 PAX engine, it has to be tested at 12.4 atm for takeoff, and 6 atm for cruise conditions. If it is to be placed at the low-pressure turbine, it has to be tested at 0.5 and 0.2 atm, respectively. These results have implications for the feasibility and design of DBD plasma actuators for jet engine flow control applications. In addition, the distributions of unit Reynolds number, Mach number, and velocity along the engine are provided. The engine models are non-proprietary and this information can be used for evaluation of other types of actuators and for other purposes.

Analysis of Innovative Plasma Actuator Geometries for Boundary Layer Control

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. F. Rodrigues ◽  
J. C. Pascoa ◽  
M. Trancossi
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Power Consumption ◽  
Active Flow Control ◽  
Plasma Actuator ◽  
Synthetic Jet ◽  
Plasma Actuators ◽  
Boundary Layer Control ◽  
Dbd Plasma ◽  
Active Flow ◽  
Layer Control

Active flow control by plasma actuators is a topic of great interest by worldwide scientific community. These devices are mainly used for boundary layer control in order to improve the aerodynamic performance of aerial vehicles. Plasma actuators are simple devices that produces a wall bounded jet which allow to control the adjacent flow without moving mechanical parts. Recently, new geometries have been proposed by different authors in an attempt to improve the performance of these devices. In this work, some of these new configurations will be studied and compared considering its ability for boundary layer control applications. Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) plasma actuator, Plasma Synthetic Jet (PSJ) actuator, Multiple Encapsulated Electrodes (MEE) plasma actuator and Curved plasma actuator (or 3D plasma actuator) will be experimentally studied in this work. Plasma actuators power consumption was measured by two different experimental methods. Results for power consumption and power losses of different plasma actuators geometries were presented and discussed.

Cycloidal Rotor Propulsion System With Plasma Enhanced Aerodynamics

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos M. Xisto ◽  
José C. Páscoa ◽  
Jakson A. Leger
Keyword(s):  
Barrier Discharge ◽  
Active Flow Control ◽  
Plasma Actuators ◽  
Dbd Plasma ◽  
Dielectric Barrier ◽  
Aerodynamic Efficiency ◽  
Rotating Blades ◽  
Numerical Tools ◽  
Active Flow ◽  
High Angles Of Attack

A cyclorotor consists of a set of blades rotating about an horizontal axis that is parallel to the blade span. The designation of cycloidal rotor is related to the cycloidal path described by the rotating blades during forward flight. In the following paper we study, trough the use of numerical tools, the PECyT (Plasma Enhanced Cycloidal Thruster) system as a way of improving the performance of classical cycloidal rotors. PECyT consists in the introduction of Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) plasma actuators in the CR blades. Such system act as an active flow control that is able to delay the stall onset at high angles of attack, thus increasing the aerodynamic efficiency of each blade.

Influence of Exposed Electrode Thickness on Plasma Actuators Performance for Coupled Deicing and Flow Control Applications

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. F. Rodrigues ◽  
M. Abdollahzadeh ◽  
J. Pascoa ◽  
L. Pires
Keyword(s):  
Temperature Field ◽  
Surface Temperature ◽  
Flow Control ◽  
Active Flow Control ◽  
Plasma Actuator ◽  
Plasma Actuators ◽  
Dbd Plasma ◽  
Electrode Thickness ◽  
Dielectric Thickness ◽  
Surface Temperature Field

Abstract Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) plasma actuators are a popular topic of research within the active flow control field. Recently, these devices have gained interest for deicing and ice prevention applications and it has been proved they allow to perform simultaneously deicing and flow control. Studies have shown that the exposed electrode plays an important role on the surface temperature field of the plasma actuator. Thus, in the current study, by the first time, we investigate the influence of the exposed electrode thickness on the induced velocity flow field and surface temperature field. Three plasma actuators with different dielectric thicknesses (0.3 mm, 0.6 mm and 1.02 mm) were mounted with a thick exposed electrode (thickness of 0.8 mm). These three actuators with thick exposed electrode were experimentally studied and compared against other three plasma actuators with same dielectric thickness but with a thin exposed electrode (thickness of 80 μm). The DBD actuators were experimentally studied considering their electrical, mechanical and thermal behavior. The results are presented and discussed in order to understand the influence of the exposed electrode thickness on the mechanical and thermal plasma actuator performances.

Experimental investigation of the effect of active flow control on the wake of a wind turbine blade

2021 ◽  
pp. 095440622110089
Author(s):  
GholamHossein Maleki ◽  
Ali Reza Davari ◽  
Mohammad Reza Soltani
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Investigation ◽  
Wind Turbine ◽  
Turbine Blade ◽  
Active Flow Control ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Wind Turbine Blade ◽  
Plasma Actuators ◽  
Plasma Actuation ◽  
Surface Pressure Distribution ◽  
Stall Angle

An extensive experimental investigation was conducted to study the effects of Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD), on the flow field of an airfoil at low Reynolds number. The DBD was mounted near the leading edge of a section of a wind turbine blade. It is believed that DBD can postpone the separation point on the airfoil by injecting momentum to the flow. The effects of steady actuations on the velocity profiles in the wake region have been investigated. The tests were performed at α = 4 to 36 degrees i.e. from low to deep stall angles of attack regions. Both surface pressure distribution and wake profile show remarkable improvement at high angles of attack, beyond the static stall angle of the airfoil when the plasma actuation was implemented. The drag calculated from the wake momentum deficit has further shown the favorable role of the plasma actuators to control the flow over the airfoil at incidences beyond the static stall angle of attack of this airfoil. The results demonstrated that DBD has been able to postpone the stall onset significantly. It has been observed that the best performance for the plasma actuation for this airfoil is in the deep stall angles of attack range. However, below and near the static stall angles of attack, plasma augmentation was pointed out to have a negligible improvement in the aerodynamic behavior.

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