Curved Fluidic Actuators for Turbine Blade Flow Control

We propose curved fluidic actuators that fit in highly cambered airfoil sections such as the low-pressure turbine blades for active control of flow separation.nbsp; The simple internal geometry of these type of actuators are robust in design, amenable for 3-D additive fabrication methods and suitable for long continuous operation with minimum maintenance and inspection.In Phase I, we will determine the limits of permissible curvature for the actuators and the effect of aspect ratio on curvature limits by testing individually fabricated actuators. In addition, a two-dimensional low-pressure turbine blade section with an array of such curved actuators will also be fabricated and bench tested. In Phase II, we plan to conduct wind tunnel tests on such airfoil blades and demonstrate active flow control in the Reynolds number range of relevance to gas turbine technology.