Patent attributes
A leading edge vortex reducing system includes a gas turbine engine airfoil extending in a spanwise direction away from an end wall, one or more plasma generators extending in the spanwise direction through a fillet between the airfoil and the end wall in a leading edge region near and around a leading edge of the airfoil and near the fillet. The plasma generators being operable for producing a plasma extending over a portion of the fillet in the leading edge region. The plasma generators may be mounted on an outer wall of the airfoil with a first portion of the plasma generators on a pressure side of the airfoil and a second portion of the plasma generators on a suction side of the airfoil. A method for operating the system includes energizing one or more plasma generators to form the plasma in steady state or unsteady modes.