View Single Post
Old 04-08-2016, 11:08 PM   #1 (permalink)
redneck
Master EcoModder
 
redneck's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: SC Lowcountry
Posts: 1,795

Geo XL1 - '94 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Boat tails and more mods
90 day: 72.22 mpg (US)

Big, Bad & Flat - '01 Dodge Ram 3500 SLT
Team Cummins
90 day: 21.13 mpg (US)
Thanks: 226
Thanked 1,353 Times in 711 Posts
Plasma drag reduction

.

Food for thought...



Freebeard mentioned plasma actuators in another thread. I recalled reading about the effect some time ago. Searching on the web for more info, I came across this.

Technology | Plasma Stream

Quote:
Our patented technology (s) uses an active flow control system utilizing plasma actuators has been developed at the University of Notre Dame. This system is capable of generating a body force which controls flow separation from a vehicle. By controlling flow separation, the drag force on a vehicle is minimized. In essence, a vehicle can be streamlined independent of its actual shape. Physical devices such as spoilers, bobtails, flow plates, and diverter tabs have been used to move the airflow in a desired direction. Plasma actuators ionize the local airflow to induce a similar affect without the added structural components or weight. Even the best designed physical devices attempt to divert flow, unlike plasmas which modify the existing flow field.
There are good videos in the link showing the effect.


Using plasma actuators to reduce drag in the future looks to be not only possible.

But, a glowing reality...




>

  Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to redneck For This Useful Post:
aerohead (04-12-2016), iveyjh (04-08-2016)