A pulsed generator for synchronous discharges of high-energy plasma synthetic jet actuators

Plasma synthetic jet (PSJ) has a wide application prospect in flow separation suppression and boundary layer control. Comparing with traditional control methods, synchronous discharges of PSJ with high repetition frequency and high energy could achieve a better flow control effect because it can meet multi-angle, wide-range and long-time flow control requirements. In this paper, a microsecond-pulse power supply for synchronous discharges of three plasma synthetic jet actuators (PSJA) is developed. Parameters of output pulses are as follows: the maximum voltage pulse is 10 kV, the pulse repetition rate is 1000 Hz and the full width is 15 μs. The generator can withstand a discharge current with an amplitude of 320 A and a discharge energy of 150 mJ. The electrical characteristics of the synchronous discharges of PSJAs including the voltage-current waveforms, discharge images and Schlieren images are investigated. The experimental result shows that the microsecond-pulse generator could sustain three discharge channels in PSJAs when the output voltage is 10 kV. These discharge channels have preferable performance in synchronicity when the repetition frequency is 1000 Hz. Furthermore, the Schlieren images show that the power supply can sustain three PSJAs with a maximum jet velocity of up to 150 m/s.