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Did someone say plasma airplane wings? How cool is that...
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/next/space/plasma-air-control/
We just watched moving air being controlled by plasma, the lesser-known, fourth state of matter which also exists in the blistering core of our sun. And while such lab demonstrations are both uncanny and awe-inspiring, these so-called plasma actuators could produce far more impressive benefits in the real world, especially for the aviation and wind power industries, and maybe even the trucking business.
On airplane wings, for example, tiny plasma actuators could help planes fly more safely, more efficiently, and with greater stability and control. They can speed, slow or divert air flows in ways that can cut drag, fuel use, and CO2 emissions by as much as 25%, researchers estimate. Some experts even think that these devices might someday replace conventional flight control surfaces such as flaps and ailerons. Imagine witnessing the ghoulish purple glow of the lab demo from the window seat of a transcontinental flight.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by carguy on Saturday August 27 2016, @12:30PM
While not mentioned in tfa, using plasma to control airflow near the surface sounds very similar to well known techniques for boundary layer control (blc) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boundary_layer_control [wikipedia.org]
There is a lot of experience in blowing or sucking small amounts of air, near the surface of a wing or other body, to make the larger flow field go in a desired direction. Sometimes done with a slot, other times with a porous surface. Another application is to remove a thick, slow moving boundary layer just before the test section in a wind tunnel.
If a plasma generator can control the flow better (higher frequency response?) or cheaper than current blc methods, then the future may include purple glow in all sorts of places.
Thanks for posting this one!