Serpentine geometry plasma actuator

[1][2] This class of plasma actuators was developed at the Applied Physics Research Group (APRG) at the University of Florida in 2008 by Subrata Roy for the purpose of controlling laminar and turbulent boundary layer flows.

It is thought that the introduction of three-dimensional flow effects allow for the plasma actuators to apply much greater levels of control authority as they allow for the plasma actuators to project onto a greater range of physical mechanisms (such as boundary layer streaks[13] or secondary instabilities of the Tollmien-Schlichting wave).

Recent work indicate that these plasma actuators may have a significant impact on controlling laminar and transitional flows on a flat plate.

[14][15] In addition, the serpentine actuator has been experimentally demonstrated to increase lift, decrease drag and generate controlling rolling moments when applied to aircraft wing geometries.

Recent numerical work predicted significant turbulent drag reduction by collocating serpentine plasma actuators in a pattern to modify energetic modes of transitional flow.

A comparison of different plasma actuator geometries. A) A view of DBD plasma actuators from the side. B) Curved serpentine geometry plasma actuator. C) Traditional (linear) geometry plasma actuator. D-F) Additional serpentine plasma actuator geometries.
Comparison of turbulent flow structures over an airfoil when a pulsed linear (left) and a serpentine (right) plasma actuator are used to control the flow.
Flow visualization comparison between flow structures generated by linear (top) and serpentine (bottom) geometry plasma actuators