Surface dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuators for flame stabilization and combustion control: mechanisms, design trends, and future directions

• Detailed review of surface plasma actuators for active flame/combustion control. • Analysis of aerodynamic, thermal and chemical effects of plasma actuators. • Assessment of actuator designs from serpentine shapes to plasma swirlers. • Insights into high-fidelity modeling for plasma-flame interactions. • Identification of research gaps in actuator durability and scaling. The present state of the energy industry in the world predetermines the transition to clean and environmentally friendly combustion systems that may contribute to addressing climate change and reduce environmental contamination. Among various combustion enhancement techniques, dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma actuators are appearing to be a promising and viable method. This review is meant to investigate the new and the most significant applications and the operational capacity of DBD plasma actuators in flame and combustion control and enhancement. This paper describes how non-thermal plasma devices with electrohydrodynamic, thermal, and chemical kinetic processes are an encouraging non-intrusive solution to the issue of flame stability, combustion enhancement, and emission minimization. This review unites both experimental and theoretical researches in demonstrating the successes and possibility of the employing DBD actuator on applications, including the use of the actuator to stabilize flames in bluff-body burners, to produce active swirls using a plasma swirler, and to accelerate reaction rates by using active species generated in a plasma such as ozone (O 3 ). This study has suggested that DBD could be used to increase the lean blow-off limits and to allow stable operation under moderate or severe low-oxygen dilution combustion. Some of the current limitations are also addressed, such as the durability of actuators, power needs, scale in high-velocity flows and incomplete knowledge of the interactions between a plasma and combustion. The review is concluded with the views on the future research, in which advanced diagnostics, strong materials, and better numerical modeling are needed to exploit the full potential of DBD-based combustion systems.