Evaluation of synthetic jet actuators design performance

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the synthetic jet actuator design's performance based on piezoelectric diaphragms that can be appropriately used for flow separation control.

Design/methodology/approach

Design the synthetic jet actuators by means of estimating the several parameters and non‐dimensional parameters. Understanding the relationship and coupling effects of these parameters on the actuator to produce exit air jet required. Experiments were conducted to measure the exit air jet velocity using a hot‐wire anemometry and determine the good operational frequencies and voltages of the actuators for different cavity volume.

Findings

The performance of synthetic jet actuator is not consistent to a particular given frequency and it depends on design configurations. Each actuator will give a very good speed for a certain frequency. The results show that the exit air jet velocity increases would be better if the cavity volume is reduced and if the input voltage is increased to certain limits.

Research limitations/implications

The limit of input voltage for the actuators that can be achieved for good jet speed is 2V of about 205V output voltage for each frequency. The jet speed obtained is sufficient enough to control the separation for an aircraft which has a small wing chord and low speed. Therefore, more studies are needed to optimize the sizes of an orifice and cavity, and the selection of piezoelectric diaphragm.

Practical implications

The study helps in establishing a flow control device for controlling flow separation, especially on airfoils.

Originality/value

Design the synthetic jet actuators based on piezoelectric diaphragm for applications of flow separation control.

Citation

Dahalan, N., Mansor, S., Haniff Shaharudin, M. and Ali, A. (2012), "Evaluation of synthetic jet actuators design performance", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 84 No. 6, pp. 390-397. https://doi.org/10.1108/00022661211272909