These active flow controls use actuators to break down vortices formed at the tips of wings and blades to reduce noise and turbulence during flight. The growing market for aircraft actuators is projected to reach $21 billion by 2030. The motion of air flowing over plane wings and helicopter blades generates vortices that contribute to instability and noise. These vortices linger behind the aircraft and can cause wake turbulence for the next passing aircraft. For rotorcrafts, these vortices reduce lift and are a significant source of noise due to blade vortex interaction during vertical take-off and landing. Systems for reducing this phenomenon include passive implementations such as surface contouring or varied wing or blade aspect ratios; however, these can adversely affect performance. Beyond such passive options, aircraft do not widely implement flow control systems.
Researchers at the University of Florida have developed an active flow control system that reduces and inhibits the formation of wing and blade tip vortices. A combination of plasma actuators on the airfoil can dissipate the vortices at the source to improve flight stability and reduce drag and noise.
Reducing wing and blade tip vortices using plasma actuators to achieve smoother, less noisy flights and to inhibit wake turbulence
The active flow control system breaks down the vortex formed by a wing or blade during flight. Uniquely shaped plasma actuators, including plasma fans and jets, placed along the surface of airfoils serve as sources of energy that generate airflow to counteract the formation of vortices. Wing and blade tip vortex control allows for more efficient, quieter, and smoother flights that generate less wake turbulence.
