Experimental Optimisation of Synthetic Jet Actuators for Flow Separation Control onboard More-Electric and Future Net-Zero Aircraft

The push to achieve the Aviation Industry's Net-Zero goals by 2050 has led to the rapid development of alternative propulsion methods such as electric, hybrid, and potentially hydrogen powered solutions. The success of such methods will be impacted by improvements in aerodynamic efficiency, capable of reducing energy consumption and increasing the flight range of future designs. Pulsed Jet Actuation (PJA) has been recognised as a promising method of flow control with a reduced mass input requirement compared to an actuator blowing continuously, as demonstrated in the University of Nottingham's WINGPULSE project. However, current limitations involve sourcing the compressed air required for fluidic jet actuation. Increases in the total system weight associated with electrical compressors and piping negate the benefits of this technology when scaled for adoption on existing aircraft. Synthetic Jet Actuators (SJA) are piezo-electric devices with the ability to generate airflows without requiring an air supply. SJAs make use of a rapidly oscillating diaphragm to generate a pulsed jet, drawing power from either an electric power supply or mechanical vibrations. Research into SJAs at UoN to-date has achieved state-of-the-art SJA performance with regards to actuator authority and power conversion efficiency. However, further experimental and computational research is required to assess the performance of such devices in a wind-on environment in the University's closed return wind tunnel, and determine the ability to optimise SJAs for specific wing applications.