Experimental Characterization of a Micro-Blower for Flow Control

A compact, lightweight, low-power piezoelectric micro-blower was characterized using particle image velocimetry to determine its flow control potential. The micro-blower has been operated in continuous mode as well as in burst mode using two different actuation frequencies. The maximum mean velocity measured with the micro-blower operating in continuous mode was approximately Ūmax = 13 m/s which occurred at the centerline at an approximate stream-wise location of x/d = 4. The velocity profiles in the developed region resemble those of turbulent jets. The momentum-flux from the micro-blower in continuous mode was significantly greater than a typical synthetic jet actuator which was successfully used for flow control, indicating that the micro-blower can impart the necessary momentum to be effective for flow control. With burst mode, the results show that the micro-blower could impart an even greater momentum.