Modelling wire-to-wire corona discharge action on aerodynamics and comparison with experiment

The purpose of this paper is to propose a simple model for plasma generation and effect on fluids at atmospheric pressure. Experiments are conducted using a wire-to-wire corona discharge actuator in a subsonic boundary layer flow. Velocity gains of several metres per second are observed. A quasi-2D numerical model of the discharge is proposed and explains the creation of two corona discharges around the electrodes. A one-way approach of the plasma aerodynamics coupling gives access to the ionic wind. It is confirmed that the actuator accelerates the flow from the anode to the cathode. Order of magnitudes of the ionic wind and flow velocity profiles are close to experiments. A first attempt to perform a 2D simulation of the wire-to-wire discharge is presented as the starting point of future works.