Numerical analyses of a viscid compressible ionic flow

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to investigate numerically the effect of a DC positive corona discharge between two parallel wire electrodes of different diameter along an insulating aerofoil surface in low subsonic compressible flow. The modeling takes into account the two characteristic regions of the phenomenon: the corona sheath, surrounding the smaller diameter electrode, and the ion drift zone. The electric force is modeled by a simplified form of the electromagnetic tensor via the coupling between Electrostatic and Navier-Stokes equations. The corona discharge system is effective in preventing flow separation, reducing total aerofoil drag and enhancing the heat and mass transfer between aerofoil and the surrounding flow.