WIND TUNNELS

Wind tunnels are setups used for the aerodynamic testing of the models of different airborne and
automobile vehicles.

This equipment helps us inverse the actual paradigm of aircraft flying in stationary air to stationary
aircraft in moving air. This conversion makes it easy for us to understand the effects of flow over the
aircraft in flight
generally a scaled down model of the actual aircraft is used in the tunnel testing rather than the
actual aircraft due to expenses and difficulties involved.

PARTS

It consists of 5 different basic parts

 intake
 nozzle
 test section
 diffuser
 fan

COMPONENTS

 Inlet flow straighteners

 Nozzle
 Compressor fan
 Test section
 Model holding apparatus
 Measuring probes
 Guide vanes
 Test section doors
 Diffuser
 Exit

Bases on the atmospheric involvement in the cycle of the wind, wind tunnels are classified into 2
types

1. Open circuit
2. Closed circuit

1.Open circuit wind tunnel

These are the tunnel that continuously intakes the air from atmosphere and exhaust it back to the
atmosphere after use

These wind tunnels mainly consist of

Compressor fan
Inlet flow straighteners
Nozzle
Test section
And diffuser
The air is taken in from the inlet and is made laminar with the help of honey comb structures which
helps straighten the flow. This air is passed in the nozzle where it gets accelerated and attains a
uniform desired speed. This air is then passed in the test section where it flows over the model and
reverse paradigm of actual condition is obtained. This air is then passed through the diffuser to
reduce the kinetic energy of the flow and the air is exhausted through the exit. This whole cycle is
driven by a compressor fan which is set either in the inlet or the exit of the setup. The wind tunnels
with fan mounted on the inlet are called as push type and the ones with fan on exit are called pull
type open circuit wind tunnels.

Advantages

1.Continuous air intake makes the tunnel more simple

2.low cost of manufacturing
3.maintenance required is comparatively less
4.uniform flow is easy to achieve

Disadvantages

1.Power requirement for a given speed is high

2.It is prone to foreign object damage
3.continuous air intake can cause dust particle to enter the tunnel and accumulate on the model
4.the model is prone to external humidity and dust or smoke environment
5.noise is comparatively high
6.requires large open space

2.Closed circuit tunnel

These are the wind tunnels which recirculates the existing air inside it to create a flow.
a closed circuit tunnel consist of a compressor fan (driving motor) and guide vanes additional to the
open type wind tunnel. The flow should be taken from exit and reversed to entry hence to minimize
the pressure losses at 900 bends, guide vanes are provided.

Advantages

1.Power requirement for a particular speed is comparatively less

2.Not prone to foreign object damage when cleaned properly
3.noise is significantly less
4.Air is free of dust and smoke from the outside environment
5.can be contained in the laboratory without damage to indoors

Disadvantages

1.involves higher cost in construction and maintenance of humidity and controlled environment.
2.design is not suitable for flow visualization.
3.there are additional heating conditions because of continuous running and heat exchangers may
be utilized.