Plasma-based control of convective heat transfer
Dr. ir. T. (Theo) Michelis
Postdoctoral Researcher
Dr. M. (Marios) Kotsonis
Associate Professor
Turbulent boundary layers are known to substantially influence skin friction and, consequently, the convective heat transfer on wall-bounded flows. This research employs an array of streamwise oriented AC-DBD plasma actuators in an attempt to enhance the convective heat transfer process downstream with respect to the actuator array, in a manner similar to vortex generators.
Stereoscopic PIV and infrared thermography measurements demonstrate that the actuator array generates pairs of counter-rotating, stationary, streamwise vortices which divert the flow away from the wall, thus, yielding a low-momentum region that grows in the streamwise direction. These vortices are shown to locally reduce the convective heat transfer, an effect that persists for several outer length scales downstream with respect to the actuation location.
This research has been carried out in collaboration with Rodrigo Castellanos, Stefano Discetti, and Andrea Ianiro from the department of Aerospace Engineering of Universidad Carlos III de Madrid.
Castellanos, R., Michelis, T., Discetti, S., Ianiro, A., & Kotsonis, M. (2022). Reducing turbulent convective heat transfer with streamwise plasma vortex generators. Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science, 134, 110596.
Theo Michelis holds a BEng degree in Mechanical Engineering from University College London, as well as an MSc and a PhD title in Aerodynamics from Delft University of Technology. His research focuses on laminar boundary layers, laminar separation bubbles, and the use of plasma actuators as tools for boundary layer control and diagnostics. He has a strong background in both experimental measurements and numerical simulations. Currently, he is developing advanced metamaterials for laminar to turbulent transition control.
Mario
