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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: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 27 2016, @06:14PM
Exactly this.
Terrestrial plasma generators have a bit more leeway WRT efficiency.
The first consideration with mobile plasma generators is how much of the fuel they consume to get the task done.
To get there, what you need to do is form the plasma using a series of skinny pulses.
I was involved in a plasma project (reducing diesel emissions, so the CO2 thing in TFS strikes a chord with me).
The trick for us was to make the leading edge as steep as possible (under 100nSec while generating over 10kV) because that's where the important stuff was happening, then turn off the pulse as quickly as possible.
Increase the repetition rate of the pulse train as the speed (volume) of the gas intersecting the plasma increases.
With an airliner traveling at over 400mph, it seems there would be an appreciable consumption of energy.
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