The effect of electrohydrodynamic force on the lift coefficient of a NACA 0015 airfoil

[摘要] Lift, the force component that is perpendicular to the line of flight, is generated when a small aircraft moves through the air. With the help of the sets of flaps and slats on its wing, the pilot controls his aircraft manoeuvring in the air. In this study, we preferred to cut the drawbacks of the flaps system by introducing the electrohydrodynamic actuator. Widely known as plasma actuator, it is able to improve the induced lift force as well as the efficiency of a small aircraft system. A dielectric-barrier-discharge actuator using a 6 kV AC power supply was developed and tested on a NACA 0015 airfoil using copper as the electrodes and kapton as its dielectric component. The experimental results showed that it was successful in presenting a positive effect of the plasma actuator on the lift coefficient of the airfoil at smaller angle of attack, where enhancements ranged between 0.7% and 1.8%. However, at a higher angle, the results were not as swayed as it was desired since the energy exerted by the plasma actuator on the lift performance of the airfoil was inadequate. Further tests are needed using higher rated voltage supply and other equipment to improve the capability of the actuator in refining the aerodynamic performance of the airfoil.

[发布机构] Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Selangor, Shah Alam, Malaysia^1;Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian Institute of Aviation Technology (UniKL MIAT), Dengkil, Selangor, Malaysia^2

[效力级别] 无线电电子学

[关键词] AC power supplies;Aero-dynamic performance;Dielectric barrier discharges;Dielectric components;Force component;Lift coefficient;Plasma actuator;Small aircraft