This document is a grant proposal from the DRIFT team seeking funding to research the impacts of medium ionization on subsonic flows. The team is composed of students and professionals from aviation companies. Their goal is to improve aerodynamic efficiency through corona discharge technology. If funded, they will conduct wind tunnel tests starting with a flat plate model and progressing to a 3D wing. The research could benefit commercial, business and military aviation by reducing fuel costs and emissions. Campus resources like wind tunnels and faculty expertise will support the project.

1. Drag Reducing Ionized Flow Technology
IGNITE Research Grant Proposal
April 8th, 2016

2. DRIFT MEMBERSHIP
TREVOR PERKINS
Team Lead
Gulfstream Aerospace
JOSHUA PEVITZ
Logistics
GE Aviation
MICHAEL TAMBORSKI
Technical
MPD Thruster
DANIEL BRUNSON
Safety
United Launch Alliance

3. TEAM PROFICIENCY
INDUSTRY
EXPERIENCE
IGNITE
RESEARCH
EXPERIENCE
HONORS
PROGRAM &
LEADERSHIP

4. PROJECT OBJECTIVES
Implement and study the impacts of
medium ionization within subsonic
flows to improve aerodynamic
performance

5. PROJECT APPLICATIONS - COMMERCIAL AVIATION
2015 STATISTICS
- 804 million passengers
- 65 million tons of freight
- 10 million departures
- 5.1% revenue increase, 4th year increase

6. INDUSTRY INITIATIVE
Truechoice:
“Employing the right processes and data points/analytics
to achieve the greatest efficiency”
“Our goal is to be the world’s most environmentally
sustainable airline”
“Airbus is contributing… through state-of-the art
technologies and environmental performance of its
aircraft ”

7. PROJECT APPLICATIONS - BUSINESS AVIATION
TOP FIVE BUSINESS CITY CONNECTIONS - MILES FROM NYC
1) London - 3,471 miles 4) Paris - 3,636 miles
2) Tokyo - 6,755 miles 5) Singapore - 9,521 miles
3) Hong Kong - 8,067 miles

8. PROJECT APPLICATIONS - MILITARY AVIATION
RECONNAISSANCE
- Intelligence gathering
- Battlefield analytics
SEARCH AND RESCUE
- Maritime Patrol Aircraft
- Coast Guard
WEATHER AND TOPOGRAPHY
- Hurricane Hunters
- National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA)

9. TECHNICAL BACKGROUND
◦ Corona Discharge Over Surface
▫ Adds momentum to flow to delay separation
◦ Laminar vs. Turbulent Flow
▫ Laminar flow is smooth and efficient
▫ Turbulent flow is chaotic and inefficient
◦ Current Research
▫ NASA
▫ Hessert Lab

10. Dr. Gnanamanickam
- Research professor of
Experimental Aerodynamics
- In charge of Aerodynamics
laboratory and wind tunnels;
granted access to DRIFT
CAMPUS RESOURCES
Dr. Ekaterinaris
- Distinguished professor of
Aerodynamics
- Research experience
regarding medium
ionization

11. BUDGET OVERVIEW
Category Amount
Services $ 400.00
Expendable Material $ 510.64
Tools & Equipment $ 905.78
Safety $ 819.99
Conferences $ 1,250.00
Total $ 3,886.41

12. METHODOLOGY
Iteration (1) Flat Plate Model
Iteration (2) Curved Surface
Iteration (3) Modified Airfoil
Iteration (4) 3D Wing
Flow
Computational
Modeling
Design
Instrumented
Body
Wind
Tunnel
Testing
Analytical
Review

13. MEMBER DEVELOPMENT
◦ Environment for personal and
professional growth
◦ Ability to share and expand knowledge
through conferences
◦ Opportunity to apply and expand on
concepts learned in class
▫ Aerodynamics
▫ Matlab
▫ CFD
▫ Electrical Engineering
▫ 3D modeling

14. CONCLUDING REMARKS
◦ Efficiency is the New Industry Standard
◦ Innovative and Technical Research
◦ Lab Space and Faculty Support
◦ Emphasis on Safety
◦ Prospective Member Growth

15. QUESTIONS?
Trevor - perkint4@my.erau.edu
Michael - tamborsm@my.erau.edu
Daniel - brunsod1@my.erau.edu
Joshua - pevitzj@my.erau.edu

16. CREDITS
Special thanks to all the people who helped make this possible:
∎ Dr. Ekaterinaris and Dr. Gnanamanickam
∎ Dr. Kain and the Honors Program
∎ Presentation template by SlidesCarnival