Performance Study of Dielectric Barrier Discharge Actuators in Flow Control by Image Processing

Arrays of dielectric barrier discharge are used for control of various aerodynamic phenomena such as control flow separation. In order to control this phenomenon by the generated momentum، it is needed to determine the maximum discharge voltage required to the momentum generation. By image processing، maximum momentum produced and consequently maximum discharge voltage can be determined with using plasma flame length and light intensity. The advantage of this method compared to other methods is simplicity and availability of a camera as the only required equipment. In this study، an array of 8DBD actuators arranged perpendicular to flow on NACA0012 is installed in a wind tunnel. Performance and maximum discharge voltage can be determined by processing the images captured from the arrays in different discharge voltages and dynamic pressures. Using image processing method for evaluating the efficiency of DBD actuators and accessing the maximum discharge voltage for flow separation control is unprecedented.