One-zone inhomogeneous phenomenological nanosecond dielectric barrier discharge (NS-DBD) actuation model used for flow control simulation is established to investigate the flow control mechanisms, based on experiments and theoretical analysis. When the inhomogeneous phenomenological model is applied to a plate, the formation of spanwise vorticity is analyzed through the vorticity transport equation, and the spanwise vorticity is mainly engendered due to the baroclinicity of pressure gradient and density gradient, also due to the vorticity transfer by the flow convection in the vicinity of the actuation region. Agreement of the simulation with experiments on a column shows that the inhomogeneous phenomenological NS-DBD actuation model is reasonable. Separation control over NACA 0015 airfoil at high angle of attack indicates that the spanwise vortices induced by plasma actuation make the separated shear layer instable, promote interaction between shear layers, and downstream the separation point. Different excitation frequency has different effect on the lift, with the optimum reduced frequency F+ ≈ 6 in current simulation.