Plasma generator reduces aerodynamic drag.

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by ConnClark

Not plasma but shows how effective this technology can be at reducing drag and turbulence.

Influence of a DC corona discharge on the airflow along an inclined flat plate

http://laboratorios.fi.uba.ar/lfd/we...9ger-et-al.pdf


Edit: See photos on page 4

I don't think we could ever see Reynolds numbers that low with cars.By 20 mph Rn is in the millions already.

[ConnClark]

Originally Posted by aerohead

I don't think we could ever see Reynolds numbers that low with cars.By 20 mph Rn is in the millions already.

People have already done it with air speeds up above mach one and thus higher Reynolds numbers.

There is a paper on it but I can't find a free version

AIAA 6th Aerospace Sciences Meeting " Electroaerodynamics in supersonic flow" by M.S.Cahn and G.M.Andrew from Northrop Coporation - N°68-24 January 22-24, 1968.

[greasemonkee]

This is an interesting idea, but something seems inherently harmful in the wattage and frequency required to alter the state/properties of atmospheric gasses.