Development of a Variable Test Section Low Speed Wind Tunnel

Abstract

This paper will describe the process of developing a open-circuit low speed wind tunnel with a variable test section. The tunnel has a test chamber measuring 0.44m by 0.44m, with a varying length of between 0.5m and 0.9m. The maximum wind velocity attainable is to be 50m/s. The pressure drop inside the test section has been selected in order to suit the performance of an axial fan that is available at the institution. After fabrication, tests were run and the maximum velocity attained at the exit of the test section was 39.5m/s. Higher velocities can be attained if leakages within the test section and the diffuser are addressed. The tunnel is still under development, and the next phase is to install a Laser Doppler Velocimeter, profile the wall boundary layer profiles and a force balance to conduct experiments. Keywords—Low speed wind tunnel, open-cicuit wind tunnel, wind tunnel test section