Date of Graduation

5-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

Mechanical Engineering

Advisor/Mentor

Huang, Adam

Committee Member

Wejinya, Uche

Abstract

Electroaerodynamic (EAD) or ionic wind propulsion is a growing area of research for small noiseless low speed aircraft. Previous flight demonstrations and experimentation have revealed that traditional methods of EAD propulsion utilizing corona discharge incur a large drag penalty due to their collector and emitter geometries. Recent publications detail flexible and geometrically conformable surface dielectric barrier discharge devices (SDBD) that could increase thrust and decrease drag as an ion source for an EAD propulsion system. This thesis explores the effects of different electrode sizes and geometries on total SDBD power consumption. SDBDs of a hexagonal, triangular, and square electrode geometry and of three different electrode surface areas were analyzed. All SDBDs discharged at an average ignition voltage of 1.25 kV at 1 kHz and could discharge at frequencies ranging from 0.1 kHz to 2.8 kHz. The power consumption of the hexagonal SDBDs was 8% more efficient as the triangular and square patterned SDBDs and an increase in SDBD electrode surface area revealed to be directly proportional to an increase in SDBD power consumption. Fitting the power consumption data of all SDBDs to an analytical model of SDBD power consumption proposed by Nicholas Wilde from MIT was also attempted.

Keywords

Ionic Wind Propulsion; Electroaerodynamic Propulsion; SDBDs; Surface Dielectric Barrier Discharge Devices

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