SYNJET3C Improvement of Synthetic Jet Actuator Technology for High Efficiency

Abstract:
SYNJET3C is a CleansKy2 development project aiming at improving the efficiency of Synthetic Jet Actuators (SJA), with a consortium composed of major European actors to this technology which are ONERA, FRAUNHOFER, TRISITEC, and CEDRAT TECHNOLOGIES (CTEC). During SYNJET3C project, a former state of the art on miniature size SJA from FRAUNHOFER, and a large one from ONERA was tested in wind tunnel test facilities, to establish and validate advanced modelling method in order to predict SJA performances, such as output speed flow, electrical power consumption, and efficiency. An advanced electro-mechano-fluidic model was developed, with modelling of gas flow with nonlinearities, piezo-electric actuators, amplification mechanism, and drive electronics limitations, in terms of voltage, current, and active power. This model was validated first with tests of existing hardware from FRAUNHOFER in laboratory quiescent air conditions, and secondly in high speed cross flow conditions tests at ONERA wind tunnel test facilities. As a last phase of the project, a new SJA was designed and manufactured, based on optimisation achieved with the accurate modelling approach validated previously, and was tested in laboratory quiescent air conditions, in order to demonstrate the improvement of output speed, mechanical fluidic power, and electrical efficiency. In this paper the modelling approach and wind tunnel validation test are presented, as well as new SJA design and performance test results.