초록 ▼

A vehicle includes a surface over which airflow passes. A plasma actuator is configured to generate plasma above the surface, the plasma coupling a directed momentum into the air surrounding the surface to reduce separation of the airflow from the surface. A method of reducing separation of airflow

A vehicle includes a surface over which airflow passes. A plasma actuator is configured to generate plasma above the surface, the plasma coupling a directed momentum into the air surrounding the surface to reduce separation of the airflow from the surface. A method of reducing separation of airflow from a surface of the vehicle includes generating plasma in air surrounding the surface at a position where the airflow would separate from the surface in the absence of the plasma.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A drag reducing apparatus for a ground vehicle comprising: at least one plasma generating device configured to be coupled to a trailing edge of the ground vehicle, wherein the trailing edge of the ground vehicle includes a surface having a first substantially planer portion separated from a secon

1. A drag reducing apparatus for a ground vehicle comprising: at least one plasma generating device configured to be coupled to a trailing edge of the ground vehicle, wherein the trailing edge of the ground vehicle includes a surface having a first substantially planer portion separated from a second substantially planer portion by a corner, and wherein the surface is subjected to a fluid flow when the ground vehicle is in motion, the plasma generating device comprising: a dielectric,a first electrode exposed to the fluid flow,a second electrode separated from the fluid flow by the dielectric, anda power supply electrically coupled to the first and second electrodes such that energization of the power supply causes the at least one plasma generating device to generate a plasma between the first and second electrodes,the plasma inducing a velocity component in a downstream direction of the fluid flow, to move a separation point of the fluid flow along the corner towards the second portion, thus reducing a drag force generated by the fluid flow over the surface of the ground vehicle. 2. A drag reducing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one plasma generating device is a single dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuator. 3. A drag reducing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the power supply is an alternating current device. 4. A drag reducing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the dielectric comprises a minimally conductive material. 5. A drag reducing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes comprise a conductive material. 6. A drag reducing apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a fairing coupled to or integrated into the surface of the vehicle, and wherein the at least one plasma generating device is coupled to a surface of the fairing, and wherein the surface of the fairing is subjected to a fluid flow. 7. A drag reducing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the ground vehicle is a truck comprising a truck rig, and a truck trailer. 8. A drag reducing apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein the at least one plasma generating device is coupled to a trailing edge of the truck rig. 9. A drag reducing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the plasma generating device is adopted to reduce the separation of the fluid flow over the surface of the vehicle. 10. A method of reducing drag generated by a ground vehicle comprising: coupling at least one plasma generating device to a trailing edge of an outer surface of the ground vehicle, the surface comprising a first substantially planer surface portion and a second substantially planer surface portion separated from the first surface portion by a corner, the plasma generating device comprising: a dielectric,a first electrode exposed to the fluid flow, anda second electrode enclosed by the dielectric;coupling a power supply to the first and second electrodes;energizing the first and second electrodes to produce a plasma when the body is subjected to a fluid flow;inducing a velocity component in a downstream direction of the fluid flow with the produced plasma; andmoving a separation point of the fluid flow over the corner towards the second surface of the outer surface of the ground vehicle. 11. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein the at least one plasma generating device is a single dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuator. 12. A method as defined in claim 10, further comprising selectively deenergizing the at least one plasma generating device when the ground vehicle is subjected to the fluid flow. 13. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein the ground vehicle is at least one of a truck, a passenger car, a bus, a van, a sport utility vehicle, a pick-up truck, a high performance vehicle, or other similar ground vehicle. 14. A method as defined in claim 10, further comprising coupling at least one array of plasma generating devices to at least a portion of the outer surface of the vehicle. 15. A drag reducing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the corner is ninety degrees such that the first surface portion is orthogonal to the second surface portion. 16. A drag reducing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one plasma generating device is coupled to a fairing mounted to the ground vehicle. 17. A drag reducing apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein the fairing is permanently mounted to the ground vehicle. 18. A drag reducing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the plasma generating device is adapted to create a plasma at a downstream edge of the first surface portion and an upstream edge of the corner. 19. A drag reducing apparatus comprising: a ground vehicle having an leading edge and a trailing edge, the trailing edge including a substantially planer downstream surface out of plane with a substantially planer upstream surface and a corner coupling the upstream and downstream surfaces, and wherein the ground vehicle is subject to a fluid flowat least one plasma generating device coupled to the trailing edge of the ground vehicle, the plasma generating device comprising: a dielectric,a first electrode exposed to the fluid flow, anda second electrode enclosed by the dielectric;a power supply electrically coupled to the first and second electrodes such that energization of the power supply causes the at least one plasma generating device to generate a plasma between the first and second electrodes,the plasma inducing a flow in a downstream direction of the fluid flow, and moving a separation point of the fluid flow over the corner towards the downstream surface, thus reducing a drag force generated by the fluid flow over the ground vehicle. 20. A drag reducing apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein the downstream surface is ninety degrees out of plane of the upstream surface. 21. A drag reducing apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein moving the separation point of the fluid flow increases the pressure on the downstream surface.