Flow Control of a Retreating Airfoil via NS-DBD Actuators Using Large Eddy Simulations

Abstract

The capability of Large Eddy Simulations (LES) to accurately model Nano-Second Pulsed Dielectric-Barrier Discharge (NS-DBD) plasma actuators for use as a flow control devise is demonstrated by comparing the newly-developed volumetric heating model to experimental results as well as a previously established surface heating model. The purpose of these models and corresponding experiments is to show that use of NS-DBD actuators can mitigate the presence of stall on a NACA0015 airfoil at a Reynolds number of 100,000 and 15° angle of attack in reversed-flow conditions. Actuators are placed at both the aerodynamic leading and trailing edge — the effects of which are analyzed separately — and forced at several Strouhal numbers StF=fc′U∞. The model validation is carried out by comparing the actuator pulse structure, mean value contours of various parameters, static pressure distribution (Cp) along the airfoil surface, and FFT plots of sound pressure level (SPL). The model results are then compared to the no-control simulations to provide evidence that actuation delays the onset of stall. This process is explored for both unsteady and steady quantities, including FFT plots, intantaneous flow field response, static pressure recovery, and mean quanitites, including a boundary layer analysis. It is concluded that at low Reynolds numbers reattachment occurs through enhanced turbulence of a separated, laminar shear layer; the reattachment processes is shown to take place over approximately 8 characteristic times for both actuator locations, although leading edge actuation only results in reattachment in the mean sense. Under similar situations, the volumetric and surfaec heating models showed similar recovery characteristics; however, since the volumetric model is less empirical than surface heating, it is recommended that volumetric heating be used in the future. Both heating models indicate that actuation at the aerodynamic leading edge has the greatest affect on the flow due to the laminar nature of the corresponding shear layer, as opposed to the turbulent shear layer on the trailing edge. It addition, a change in duty cycle was shown to have little effect on the results whereas an incerase in StF had a large negative effect on reattachment.