The University of Florida is seeking companies interested in commercializing a plasma actuator

that reduces drag, helping make aircraft, spacecraft and other vehicles more fuel efficient. The
overall speed and efficiency of planes, automobiles and other motorized vehicles is highly
dependent on unpredictable circumstances such as fluid eddies, fluctuating temperatures,
changes in atmospheric pressure and poor weather conditions. Plasma actuators - engines that
use ionized air (plasma) and electric-field gradients to achieve propulsion - can respond to these
external factors more rapidly than any other mechanical device. They are also surface compliant
and thus much less sensitive to the mechanical failure caused by changes in ambient condition.
This robustness is precisely what fuels researchers' strong interest in plasma actuation
technology. While the field has enormous potential, existing actuators have drawbacks that do
not allow aircraft and other vehicles to attain high speeds - even with bulky, expensive powersupply systems. The inefficient input-to-output ratio makes plasma actuation an undesirable
option in many smaller-scale propulsion devices. Researchers at the University of Florida have
developed an improved plasma actuator capable of high thrust densities with reduced power
requirements. The new plasma actuator, which uses electrodynamic principles to generate better
thrust, consuming the same power as that of a standard actuator, could revolutionize flow
management. The new actuator also has applications in noise control, high-altitude flight and
space propulsion industries, broadening the prospective market.

Application
Plasma actuator for propulsion systems that reduces drag (improves flow control) and requires
less power

Advantages

Increases magnitude of thrust density, allowing for faster response times and better flow
control

Reduces power requirements, significantly decreasing operation costs and making the
product more efficient

Streamlined design includes fewer mechanical components, boosting reliability

Technology
By using electrical discharge, researchers at the University of Florida have created an improved
dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma actuator. This form of actuation is already gaining
attention in aerodynamic applications, and the new plasma actuator offers unparalleled
competitive advantages in the expanding field of mechanical propulsion systems The DBD
actuator has improved separation on airfoils, low pressure turbine blades, and buff bodies. Unlike
other flow control techniques (which require bulky mechanical systems), the DBD does not
include moving body parts, increasing efficiency and applicability in previously underdeveloped

industries. Additionally, the actuator offers almost instantaneous response times, lower power
consumption needs and an increased range of operational frequencies.