Fluidic Actuators with No Moving Parts

Two new fluidic actuator designs were developed to control fluid flow in ways that will ultimately result in improved system performance and fuel efficiency in to improve the aerodynamic performance of a variety of vehicles. These flow control actuators, often referred to as fluidic oscillators or sweeping jet actuators, utilize the Coanda effect to generate spatially oscillating bursts (or jets). They can be embedded directly into a control surface (such as a wing or a turbine blade) to help reduce flow separation, increase lift, reduce drag, enhance mixing, or increase heat transfer. Recent studies show up to a 60% performance enhancement (such as increased lift or reduced drag) with fluidic actuators.