EHD ponderomotive forces and aerodynamic flow control using plasma actuators

Abstract

We present a self-consistent two-dimensional fluid model of the temporal and spatial development of the One Atmosphere Uniform Glow Discharge Plasma (OAUGDP$^{\circledR}$). Continuity equations for electrically charged species N$_2^+$, N$_4^+$, O$_2^+$, O$_2^-$ and electrons are solved coupled to the Poisson equation, subject to appropriate boundary conditions. It was used an algorithm proposed by Patankar$^{\cite{Patankar}}$. The transport parameters and rate coefficients for electrons at atmospheric pressure are obtained by solving the homogeneous Boltzmann equation for electrons under the hydrodynamic assumption. Operational variables are obtained as a function of time: electric current; surface charge accumulated on the dielectric surface; the memory voltage and the gas voltage controlling the discharge. It is also obtained the spatial distribution of the electric field, the populations of charges species, the resulting ponderomotive forces, and the gas speed.