Development of a multilevel plasma generator for Dielectric Barrier Discharge actuators

In this work the development and the testing of a high voltage - high frequency plasma generator to supply Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) actuators for the aerodynamic control, is reported. The generator can produce a wide set of different voltage wave\uacforms. The peak-to-peak electrical tension is 30 kV at a frequency up to 20 kHz. The operating frequency are independent of the load char\uacacter\uacistics and are not subject to require\uacments on impedance matching. The generator has been tested when supplying a DBD actuator for aerodynamic control based on the Electro-Hydro-Dynamic (EHD) interaction. The tests have been performed in still air. The flow induced in the region above the surface of the actuator has been investigated and the EHD efficiency has been evaluated. The sinusoidal voltage waveform, simulated by the multilevel generator, and the sinusoidal voltage waveform of a conventional generator obtain comparable EHD effects and efficiencies. The sinusoidal and the inverse saw-tooth voltage waveforms show the best efficiencies with regard to the EHD interaction