Experimental investigation of flow separation control on highly loaded compressor cascade by plasma aerodynamic actuation

To discover the mechanism and main influential factors of flow separation control on highly loaded compressor cascade by plasma aerodynamic actuation, the plasma flow control at different flow field and actuation conditions was experimentally studied. The dielectric barrier discharge plasma generation and image were presented. The cascade flowfield structure as well as the plasma actuation variation rule and impact factors were discussed and studied with pressure distribution behind blade trailing edge. Results show that actuation effects reduce with the increase of airflow velocity and incidence angle, but become the best at i= 2°; the location of actuator electrodes is of vital importance, the best is in slight front of place where separation line starts. Turning steady actuation to unsteady actuation to optimize the actuation mode can reach coupling of time scale between unsteady actuation and separation region, which is an important mean of enhancing the plasma flow control effect.