Synthetic jet actuators: Overview and applications

A Synthetic Jet Actuator (SJA) is a fluidic device that generates a quasi-steady jet of fluid by the cyclic suction and blowing of fluid into and out of a cavity across a slot or an orifice such that the net mass flux is zero over an actuation cycle. The unique features of the SJA including a short response time, high jet velocity, no requirement for external air supply, lack of complex piping and compactness, have attracted a lot of attention in recent years, and it has been the subject of intense research in the fluid mechanics and heat transfer fields. The aim of this review paper is to present a comprehensive review of the characteristics of the SJAs in the quiescent conditions, the interaction of the SJAs with the cross flow and their application in the flow separation control and for the enhancement of heat transfer processes. The effects of the geometrical and operational parameters on the performance and the characteristics of SJA have been presented in the quiescent conditions. The applications of this technology for flow separation control over the models with simple and complex geometries have been reviewed and discussed. Moreover, the application of SJAs for the cooling purposes, and the influence of crucial design and operating parameters on the cooling performance of this technology have been reviewed.