Mechanism of active flow control using micro actuators

Based on MEMS technology, micro balloon actuator arrays and synthetic jets were developed for active control of flow over an airfoil. Numerical simulation and wind tunnel tests were carried out to evaluate the control capability of micro balloon actuator. And, the influence mechanism of micro balloon actuators on aerodynamic performance of airfoil was studied. Meanwhile, micromachined synthetic jets and their microfluidic characteristics were described to express the lift-increase mechanism of synthetic jets. The research on two kinds of micro actuators shows that active flow control goals, such as lift-increase and stall characteristics improvement, can be achieved, at the activation of micro actuators at suitable positions on the airfoil surface with appropriate control parameters.