Dual Synthetic Jets Actuator and Its Applications—Part I: PIV Measurements and Comparison to Synthetic Jet Actuator

Abstract

In order to understand the differences between dual synthetic jets (DSJs) and synthetic jets (SJs), particle image velocimetry (PIV) technology is used to capture the basic flow field characteristics of a dual synthetic jet actuator (DSJA) and a synthetic jet actuator (SJA), and then a careful comparison between them is implemented. The results indicate that a cycle of the DSJ is divided into two stages. In the near-field downstream, a pair of synthetic jets entrain fluid around them and interact with each other, making the flow field complex, and the time-periodic diaphragm dominates them. There is an unfavorable phenomenon of “self-support” between the two jets. In the far-field downstream, the two jets merge into a single, more stable SJ with a higher velocity and a double characteristic frequency. The DSJs have also shown good vectoring characteristics, with the vectoring deflection angle (VDA) changing from about −46° to 46°. The above results demonstrate that the DSJA may replace the traditional SJA in all kinds of applications and extend the applying area of the SJ to more active flow control systems, which cannot be qualified by traditional SJA.