Gust Wind Tunnel

The Gust Wind Tunnel started operation in 1983 and is still in use for investigations on wind turbines.

Technical details:

  • Size of the test section: Diameter 6.3 m, Length 6.5 m
  • Maximum velocity: 17 m/s
  • Cross section of the test-section: 31 m2
  • Total Length: 21.9 m
  • Fan: 8 blades, Diameter 5,6 m
  • Motor: Three-phase current 315 kW; Hydraulic unit; Hydromotor in the hub
  • Rotational Speed: up to 190 rev/min, continuously adjustable

The Gust Wind Tunnel is the biggest wind tunnel at IAG. It has been designed and built specifically for the purpose of experimental investigations on wind turbines in both stationary flow and gust-load conditions. The facility is of Eiffel-type.

Especially for experiments with wind turbines under steady flow conditions as well as under gust loads a gust wind tunnel was designed and constructed. It is a tunnel of the Eiffel-type. Its test section has a diameter of 6,3m because of the considerable blocking effect of wind turbine models. Additionally, the wall of the test section is slotted to reduce the wall interference. An axial-flow fan with a power of 315kW allows a maximum flow velocity of 17m/s.

In order to improve the flow quality, the inlet section was prolongated by a movable net with a length of 12 m. Anyway, the flow is still subject to slight disturbances of the mean velocity. As a result, the local flow angle in the test section can vary slightly when the environmental conditions (direction of wind) change.

Flow facility Gust Wind Tunnel
Gust Wind Tunnel

In 1983, the Gust Wind Tunnel was put into operation and is still used for investigations of wind energy plants, for example for the prototype development of a new generation wind turbine.

Extensive measurements were carried out for the solar airplane Icaré 2, whereby both the propeller efficiency in the design case and the mutual influence of propeller and upstream tail unit were examined. Due to the size of the test section, these measurements could be carried out on an original scale.

Further fields of application are e.g. the execution of measurements in the field of building aerodynamics.

Contact

This image shows Werner Würz

Werner Würz

Dr.-Ing.

Head working group Laminar Wind Tunnel

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