Force Production Mechanisms of a Dielectric-Barrier Discharge Plasma Actuator

TLDR

The study investigates the principles governing time‑averaged force production by a dielectric‑barrier discharge plasma actuator. The authors derive that ion acceleration in the electric field and subsequent collisions generate force, and experimentally measure force, power dissipation, voltage, plasma intensity, and the dependence of electric field strength and ion number on pressure in a vacuum chamber. Force production is governed by ion density, plasma volume, and applied field, is independent of neutral density, varies linearly with air pressure (vanishing at vacuum), and is determined solely by the nonlinear dependence of electric field strength and ion number on pressure.

Abstract

*† ‡ § This paper details the principles behind the time-averaged force production by a dielectric-barrier discharge plasma actuator. A theoretical derivation shows that the force produced is due to the acceleration of ions through the applied electric field, and subsequent collisions with neutral particles. This work shows that the force production is independent of the density of the neutral particles, but is governed by ion density, volume of the plasma, and the applied electric field. Force production of the plasma actuator was experimentally measured in a large vacuum chamber used to control air pressure. Power dissipation, applied voltage, and plasma intensity were also measured in these experiments. These results indicate a linear relationship between force production and air pressure, with the force going to zero at vacuum conditions. Dependencies of electric field strength and number of ions in the plasma as a function of pressure are also measured. These two nonlinear relationships are determined to be the only factors affecting the amount of force produced by the plasma actuator.