Scaling of maximum velocity, body force, and power consumption of dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuators via particle image velocimetry

Abstract

This study presents Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) measurements of the induced flow characteristics generated by single dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) actuators in quiescent conditions. The primary aim is to establish accurate empirical trends for model development on both the maximum induced velocity and body force with voltage and consumed power. The results reveal a power law variation for the maximum velocity at low voltages which is followed by an asymptotic behavior. In contrast, the body force is characterized by two power law regions. The power law exponent is shown to be a function of the dielectric thickness, frequency and dielectric constant. Reducing the former or increasing the latter two result in a higher coefficient and lower voltage at which the trend changes. The onset of the second region occurs at a Re ∼ 100 (based on the maximum velocity, um, and corresponding half height, y1/2) and is characterized by a velocity profile which no longer agrees with the laminar profile of Glauert whilst moving increasingly towards the turbulent case. Phase locked PIV measurements show that as the voltage increases the peak momentum transfer shifts from the middle of the AC cycle to the latter end of the forward stroke. Lissajous plots of umϕ against the corresponding x location and plasma length Δx demonstrate that the peak momentum transfer remains relatively fixed in space as the voltage and plasma length increase.