Surface DBD’s and plasma-flow interaction

Surface Dielelectric Barrier Discharges (DBD) are becoming very attractive in the field of flow control technologies for their promising effects on stabilising separating flows, at least at low speeds under the so-called ionic wind effect. Numerous experiments have been performed over the last few years to further study these effects. At high speeds, such as transonic aircraft or internal engine flow speeds, EPFL has performed studies showing a clear effect of the flow on the plasma, and a lesser effect on the flow, when the plasma is created by a surface embedded DBD that is supplied by AC voltage. Whereas using a nano-pulsed DBD, specific effects of flow interaction have been detected. To this end further studies are undertaken at EPFL to understand the characteristics of such plasmas and their modification in flow conditions using both fast-rise pulsed alimented DBD’s and the continuous AC ones. This paper will present these different aspects.