Empirical relations for discharge current and momentum injection in dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuators

Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) plasma actuators with an asymmetric, straight edge electrode configuration generate a wall-bounded jet without moving parts. Mechanistic description of the interaction between Coulombic forces and fluid motion as function DBD parameters remains unclear. This paper presents experimental investigation actuator, including electrical current associated microdischarges, volume, wall momentum over range AC frequencies (0.5 - 2 kHz) peak-to-peak voltages up to 19.5 kV. is measured high temporal resolution, volume characterized optically, induced by computed based on axial velocities downstream actuator using custom-built pitot tube. analysis demonstrated asymmetry positive negative semi-cycle; both currents yielded power-law relationship empirical fitting coefficients. Plasma length varies linearly quadratically voltage. Although reached asymptotic value at higher frequency, grows due increasing height ionization region. In simple 2D configuration, shows near-linear dependency discharge in considered this work. The presented model characterizes only inputs. With estimation can be applied for determining more realistic boundary conditions numerical simulations.