Patent ID: 7302838

Claim:
A system for controlling boundary layer shear stress adjacent a surface over which a fluid stream has been established, the system comprising: a boundary layer control device adapted for altering at least one flow characteristic within a boundary layer in a selected region of the surface; a shear stress measurement system comprising a hot film sensor arrangement having at least one hot film sensor element appliable to the surface in the selected region, the at least one hot film sensor element being included in an anemometer circuit configured to provide a sensor signal corresponding to heat transfer from the associated hot film sensor to the fluid stream; and a control module in communication with the anemometer arrangement and the boundary layer control device, the control module being adapted for receiving and processing sensor signals signal from the anemometer circuit and for providing input signals to the boundary layer control device, wherein the boundary layer control device comprises a fluid injection manifold comprising at least one injection port formed through the surface, the fluid injection manifold being adapted for selectively injecting or withdrawing fluid from the boundary layer based on a manifold pressure and means for controlling the manifold pressure.