2024 Volume 24 Issue 3 Pages 112-119
Plasma actuators are fluid control tools that utilize induced flow from non-equilibrium plasma and are capable of actively controlling surface fluid flow, such as suppression of separation. Their applications are expected to expand into various fields, including reducing wind turbine blade drag and minimizing air resistance in unmanned aerial vehicles. However, the low velocity of plasma-induced flow remains a significant research challenge for plasma actuators. This study aims to accelerate induced flow by changing the exposed electrode shape of the plasma actuator from a common straight shape to a combined shape composed of rectangular and serrated configurations. Observations from Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) reveal that the use of combined electrodes induces three-dimensional turbulence in the flow, reducing the influence of frictional resistance from the wall surface and thus improving velocity compared to straight electrodes.
