F

PI

AS

LASMA

NDUCED

LOW

ERODYNAMIC

TRUCTURE

http://my.fit.edu/eflow/

1

Project GoalProject Goal

Design and build an aerodynamic structure which will improve aircraft performance by implementing plasma actuators and their corresponding efficiency regimes

2

1% reduced drag Boeing 727 = 20,000 gallons of fuel per year = OVER $100,000.00 savings/airplane [Ref. 2]

Objectives

• Improve critical angle of attack by >20%• Augment Lift vs. Drag ratio by > 15%• Increase Fuel efficiency by 0.5%• Quantify system feasibility and effectiveness

3

AccomplishmentsAccomplishments

• Obtained flow physic’s understanding

• Designed preliminary actuator set-up

• Constructed experimental flat plate

4

Current Date

5

Electronics

7

• Simple Circuit• Inexpensive Parts• Easy to modify and operate•Depend on Larry to build

Circuit diagram

Changes and future work

Overall electric system had to be simplified:•Discard variable frequency•Build variable high voltage power supply•Steady frequency due to circuit constraints

Work in progress:•Determine a working frequency to be used•Acquire high voltage wires•Work out wind tunnel electric set-up

Future ExperimentsFuture Experiments

• Test Proof of Concept• Achieve Drag Reduction• Obtain Relevant Data

• Develop System Regime• Voltage Effects• Free-Stream Velocity Effects •Frequency Effects

9

Thermal AnalysisGoal

• Ensure actuators do not burn/melt

Objectives• Develop heat model• Quantify temperatures and heat transfer rates • Determine if temperature values and heat transfer

rates are allowable

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Thermal Analysis

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Approach• Analyze entire model• Make reasonable assumptions of heat transfer

(Assume 1-D)• Divide actuator accordingly• Reintegrate results into model and repeat

approach to optimize model

Thermal Analysis

12

Qconv

Qrad

Qgen

Qcond

Qconv

Qconv

Qrad

Qrad

Qcond

Qcond

Qcond Qcond

FiberGlass

Kapton Tape

Cu Foil

Cu Foil

Air Flow

NOT TO SCALEHeat Transfer processes (2D) happening simultaneously

NOT TO SCALE

Qgen

SIDE VIEW

Thermal Analysis

13

QconvQgen

Qcond

Qconv

Qcond

FiberGlass

Kapton Tape

Cu Foil

Cu Foil

Air Flow

NOT TO SCALESimplified Heat Transfer processes (1D) with Assumptions

NOT TO SCALE

Qgen

SIDE VIEW

Questions?