Advancements and challenges of high-speed active flow control: Plasma actuators

Abstract

Effective active flow control is crucial for high-speed aircraft to reduce drag, enhance heat dissipation, and improve fuel mixing characteristics. Plasma actuators, which offer rapid response times, lack of mechanical moving parts, and a broad operating frequency range, have emerged as a promising solution for these challenges. It has received extensive attention in the past 30 years. This review synthesizes findings from over 2700 relevant studies and over 300 in-depth papers on the application of plasma actuators in high-speed active flow control. The paper compares the technical features of various plasma actuator designs and examines their mechanisms for controlling high-speed flow fields, particularly focusing on shock wave control and boundary layer interference. Despite notable progress, challenges remain in fully leveraging the potential of plasma actuators for efficient flow control in high-speed aircraft. Nonetheless, advancements in plasma actuator technology hold the potential to revolutionize aircraft design and performance, marking a significant step forward in high-speed fluid mechanics.