The Boeing Company

Christopher Daniel Wilson

Joseph Steven Silkey

Richard S Dyer

Bradley Alan Osborne

A flow control system and method especially well adapted for use on a Coanda surface. In one embodiment a plurality of plasma actuators are disposed over a Coanda surface of a wing of an aircraft. The actuators are selectively energized to either delay the onset of boundary layer flow separation from the Coanda surface, or to promote flow separation. One embodiment discloses using dual mode plasma actuators on a Coanda surface. The system and method is applicable to a wide variety of aerodynamic surfaces where control over the separation of a boundary layer flow over a trailing edge surface is desired.

Airfoil trailing edge plasma flow control apparatus and method

Air induction control systems and methods for aircraft are provided. A particular aircraft includes a fuselage, a pair of wings and an engine. The aircraft also includes an inlet defining an aperture to receive air for delivery to the engine. The inlet has a longitudinal axis generally aligned with a direction of flow of the air as the air approaches the inlet. The aircraft also includes at least one first dielectric barrier discharge generator positioned to apply a first force to the air prior to the air being received by the engine. The first force acts in a first direction. The aircraft further includes at least one second dielectric barrier discharge generator positioned to apply a second force to the air prior to the air being received by the engine. The second force acts in a second direction that is non-parallel to the first direction.

Air induction control

An air induction system for an aircraft to control distortion and pressure recovery for improved aerodynamic performance. The system includes an inlet and at least one dielectric barrier discharge generator positioned upstream of the engine for imparting momentum to a low-energy boundary layer of air. A plurality of spaced dielectric barrier discharge generators may be activated in selected combinations to optimize performance at respective flight conditions. In one embodiment, one or more generators may be oriented generally transverse relative to the flow of intake air to eject the boundary layer in a lateral direction and prevent its ingestion by the engine. In another embodiment, one or more generators may be oriented along the direction of flow to accelerate the boundary layer air.

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St. Louis, MO, United States of America

Christopher Daniel Wilson