Performance of synthetic jet actuators based on hybrid and double-acting principles

The design of the discussed fluid jet actuator followed two ideas: a double-acting operation of reciprocating pumps, and a hybrid synthetic jet (HSJ) actuation. The entire actuator consists of two basic parts, namely the front (central) and rear chambers, from which fluid is displaced by the opposite sides of the same diaphragm. The actuator operates in a double-acting (antiphase) regime with air as the working fluid. The central chamber generates the standard (zero-net-mass-flux) axisymmetric synthetic jet (SJ), while the rear chamber generates system of several non-zero-net-mass-flux HSJs arranged around the central SJ. A number of variants of HSJs with different geometry were designed, manufactured and tested. Their behavior was investigated experimentally using the smoke visualization, reaction force measurement, hot-wire anemometry, and naphthalene sublimation technique. The tests confirm the efficiency of the present design.