Investigation on the energy transfer in a DBD plasma actuator for airflow control

In this work two dielectric barrier discharge fluid dynamic actuators have been experimentally investigated. A planar electrode pair separated by a dielectric constitutes each actuator. Two different geometries and dielectric materials have been utilized. Several a.c. supply voltages and frequencies have been utilized in order to deliver to the plasma the same amount of average power. The energy transfer mechanism has been investigated. This has been done in tests using same average power. The visualization of the vortex generated inside the plasma during the discharge ignition phase and in the steady regime has been obtained by using Schlieren diagnostics technique. Vortex propagation velocities for both the actuators in all supply conditions have been derived. The actuator influence region has been visualized and compared with the influence area obtained by Pitot velocity measurements performed at different distances from the upper electrode.