A new low-turbulence wind tunnel for bird flight experiments at Lund University, Sweden

1997 ◽  
Vol 200 (10) ◽  
pp. 1441-1449 ◽  
Author(s):  
C J Pennycuick ◽  
T Alerstam ◽  
A Hedenström
Keyword(s):  
Wind Speed ◽  
Wind Tunnel ◽  
Test Section ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
Turbulence Level ◽  
Bird Flight ◽  
Contraction Ratio ◽  
Unrestricted Access ◽  
Side Walls ◽  
Air Speed

A new wind tunnel for experiments on bird flight was completed at Lund University, Sweden, in September 1994. It is a closed-circuit design, with a settling section containing five screens and a contraction ratio of 12.25. The test section is octagonal, 1.20 m wide by 1.08 m high. The first 1.2 m of its length is enclosed by acrylic walls, and the last 0.5 m is open, giving unrestricted access. Experiments can be carried out in both the open and closed parts, and comparison between them can potentially be used to measure the lift effect correction. The fan is driven by an a.c. motor with a variable-frequency power supply, allowing the wind speed to be varied continuously from 0 to 38 m s-1. The whole machine can be tilted to give up to 8 ° descent and 6 ° climb. A pitot-static survey in the test section showed that the air speed was within ±1.3 % of the mean at 116 out of 119 sample points, exceeding this deviation at only three points at the edges. A hot-wire anemometer survey showed that the turbulence level in the closed part of the test section was below 0.04 % of the wind speed throughout most of the closed part of the test section, rising to approximately 0.06 % in the middle of the open part. No residual rotation from the fan could be detected in the test section. No decrease in wind speed was detectable beyond 3 cm from the side walls of the closed part, and turbulence was minimal beyond 10 cm from the walls. The installation of a safety net at the entrance to the test section increased the turbulence level by a factor of at least 30, to 1.2 % longitudinally and 1.0 % transversely.

scholarly journals Towards accurate and practical drone-based wind measurements with an ultrasonic anemometer

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 1303-1318
Author(s):  
William Thielicke ◽  
Waldemar Hübert ◽  
Ulrich Müller ◽  
Michael Eggert ◽  
Paul Wilhelm
Keyword(s):  
Wind Speed ◽  
Wind Tunnel ◽  
Sonic Anemometer ◽  
Substantial Reduction ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Single Location ◽  
Ultrasonic Anemometer ◽  
Induced Flow ◽  
Air Speed

Abstract. Wind data collection in the atmospheric boundary layer benefits from short-term wind speed measurements using unmanned aerial vehicles. Fixed-wing and rotary-wing devices with diverse anemometer technology have been used in the past to provide such data, but the accuracy still has the potential to be increased. A lightweight drone for carrying an industry-standard precision sonic anemometer was developed. Accuracy tests have been performed with the isolated anemometer at high tilt angles in a calibration wind tunnel, with the drone flying in a large wind tunnel and with the full system flying at different heights next to a bistatic lidar reference. The propeller-induced flow deflects the air to some extent, but this effect is compensated effectively. The data fusion shows a substantial reduction of crosstalk (factor of 13) between ground speed and wind speed. When compared with the bistatic lidar in very turbulent conditions, with a 10 s averaging interval and with the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) constantly circling around the measurement volume of the lidar reference, wind speed measurements have a bias between −2.0 % and 4.2 % (root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 4.3 % to 15.5 %), vertical wind speed bias is between −0.05 and 0.07 m s−1 (RMSE of 0.15 to 0.4 m s−1), elevation bias is between −1 and 0.7∘ (RMSE of 1.2 to 6.3∘), and azimuth bias is between −2.6 and 7.2∘ (RMSE of 2.6 to 8.0∘). Key requirements for good accuracy under challenging and dynamic conditions are the use of a full-size sonic anemometer, a large distance between anemometer and propellers, and a suitable algorithm for reducing the effect of propeller-induced flow. The system was finally flown in the wake of a wind turbine, successfully measuring the spatial velocity deficit and downwash distribution during forward flight, yielding results that are in very close agreement to lidar measurements and the theoretical distribution. We believe that the results presented in this paper can provide important information for designing flying systems for precise air speed measurements either for short duration at multiple locations (battery powered) or for long duration at a single location (power supplied via cable). UAVs that are able to accurately measure three-dimensional wind might be used as a cost-effective and flexible addition to measurement masts and lidar scans.

scholarly journals Optimizing the Coupling of a Firebrand Generator to a Horizontal Wind Tunnel

2013 ◽  
Vol 726-731 ◽  
pp. 971-976
Author(s):  
Javad Hashempour ◽  
Ahmad Sharifian
Keyword(s):  
Wind Speed ◽  
Wind Tunnel ◽  
Test Section ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Fire Spread ◽  
Horizontal Wind ◽  
Experimental Facility ◽  
Velocity Difference ◽  
Wind Speeds ◽  
Computational Work

Australia is considered as the most fire-prone country in the world. Spotting ignition by lofted firebrands is the main mechanism of fire spread. Many experimental studies have been conducted to evaluate the effect of the firebrand attacks on structures and to identify possible solutions. The experimental facility consists of a firebrand generator coupled to a wind tunnel. The wind speed in the firebrand generator is relatively low, in order to assure a quality continuous flow of glowing firebrands. On the contrary, the wind speed in the wind tunnel is high to duplicate actual firebrand attacks. Previous works show a highly turbulent region above the entrance of firebrands to the wind tunnel which is formed because of the velocity difference and penetration of firebrand entrance hose into the wind tunnel. The penetration is required to provide a uniform firebrand distribution along the height of the test section. In this computational work, the influence of the height of the entrance hose, its orientation respect to the tunnel and the distance between the coupling port and the test section are analyzed. The optimized results are presented and discussed for a variety of wind speeds within the wind tunnel and the firebrand generator.

An Acoustic Procedure for Measuring Blade-Frequency Forces Generated by Model Ship Propellers

2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Strasberg
Keyword(s):  
Wind Speed ◽  
Wind Tunnel ◽  
Test Section ◽  
Sound Pressure ◽  
Water Tunnel ◽  
Measurement Point ◽  
Theoretical Relation ◽  
Point Measurement ◽  
Direct Measurements ◽  
Blade Frequency

Abstract An acoustic procedure is described for measuring the blade-frequency fluctuating forces developed by a powered model propeller operating behind a model of a ship’s hull or a wake generator in the anechoic test section of a wind tunnel. The sound pressure radiated by the propeller in a given direction is measured and its magnitude inserted into a simple theoretical relation to determine the alternating force developed by the propeller in that direction. Although the procedure was developed years ago, the details and limitations have not previously been described in the literature. Restrictions are discussed on the size of the propeller, location of the measurement point, measurement frequency, and the wind speed. Measurements determining the validity of the procedure are described, including comparisons of the magnitude of forces determined by this acoustic procedure with direct measurements made with a force dynamometer in a water tunnel.

Periodic Flow in a Wind Tunnel Produced by Rotating Shutters

1976 ◽  
Vol 98 (2) ◽  
pp. 278-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Charnay ◽  
J. Mathieu
Keyword(s):  
Wind Tunnel ◽  
Resonance Frequency ◽  
Test Section ◽  
Wind Tunnel Test ◽  
Periodic Flow ◽  
Turbulence Level ◽  
Mean Velocity ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Velocity Skewness

The periodic flow obtained in a wind tunnel test section by means of an upstream pulsator is investigated. The turbulence level in this section is quite small and the direction of the periodic velocity is that of the mean velocity. The measurement of the velocity skewness and flatness factors indicates that true sinusoidal pulsation is achieved only for the resonance frequency which depends little on the length of the test section.

scholarly journals Towards accurate and practical drone-based wind measurements with an ultrasonic anemometer

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Thielicke ◽  
Waldemar Hübert ◽  
Ulrich Müller
Keyword(s):  
Wind Speed ◽  
Wind Tunnel ◽  
Sonic Anemometer ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Industry Standard ◽  
Single Location ◽  
Ultrasonic Anemometer ◽  
Absolute Bias ◽  
Air Speed

Abstract. Wind data collection in the atmospheric boundary layer benefits from short term wind speed measurements using unmanned aerial vehicles. Fixed and rotary wing devices with diverse anemometer technology have been used in the past to provide such data, but the accuracy still has the potential to be increased. We developed a light weight drone (weight including sensor  45 min) for carrying an industry standard precision sonic anemometer. Accuracy tests have been performed with the isolated anemometer at high tilt angles in a calibration wind tunnel, with the drone flying in a large wind tunnel, and with the full system flying at different heights next to a bistatic lidar reference. The propeller-induced flow deflects the air to some extent, but this effect is compensated effectively. Our data fusion shows no signs of crosstalk between ground speed and wind speed. When compared with the bistatic lidar in very turbulent conditions, with 10 seconds averaging interval and with the UAV constantly circling around the measurement volume of the lidar reference, wind speed measurements have an average absolute bias of 1.9 % (0.073 m s−1), wind elevation average absolute bias is 0.5°, and wind azimuth average absolute bias is 1.5°, indicating excellent accuracy under challenging and dynamic conditions. The system was finally flown in the wake of a wind turbine, successfully measuring the spatial velocity deficit distribution during forward flight, yielding results that are in very close agreement to lidar measurements and the theoretical distribution. We believe that the results presented in this paper can provide important information for designing flying systems for precise air speed measurements either for short duration at multiple locations (battery powered) or for long duration at a single location (power supplied via cable). UAVs that are able to accurately measure three-dimensional wind might be used as cost effective and flexible addition to measurement masts and lidar scans.

Experimental Results of a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernardo Fortunato ◽  
Sergio Mario Camporeale ◽  
Marco Torresi ◽  
Davide De Fazio ◽  
Mauro Giordani
Keyword(s):  
Wind Speed ◽  
Wind Tunnel ◽  
Personal Computer ◽  
Test Section ◽  
Fluid Dynamic ◽  
Vertical Axis ◽  
Hot Wire ◽  
Vertical Axis Wind Turbine ◽  
Wire Probe ◽  
Set Up

In the present paper the new wind tunnel located in the Fluid-dynamic Laboratory of the Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica e Gestionale (DIMeG) of the Bari Polytechnic will be shortly described and the first experimental measurements on a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) will be shown. The DIMeG wind tunnel has been designed by the research group on wind energy of the Department. It is a subsonic, closed loop, wind tunnel with a transparent test part where small scale models can be analyzed. A four bladed axial fan is driven by an asynchronous three phase electric motor, which is connected to an inverter in order to change the wind speed. Angular blades have been inserted at the two curves between the fan and the test section in order to increase the uniformity of the velocity profile after the two curves. An optimization fluid-dynamic study has been carried out in order to find the best blade profile. A honeycomb has been also inserted upstream the test section in order to destroy the still existing small vorticity generated by the fan and the curves. A three-axis traversing, called Cartesian robot, has been designed and built above the test section, in order to move the hot wire probe, for wind speed measurements, by means of four step by step electric motors controlled by a personal computer. A data acquisition system has been set up. All the principal commands and controls can be performed by a dedicated personal computer, which has been programmed using LabVIEW® G-programming language. The first experimental activity has been performed on a VAWT model, of the Giromill type with parallel blades. The turbine has been connected to an AC brushless servo, able to control the braking torque. Experimental results of the flow field in two horizontal planes have been set up using a two component hot wire probe (Dantec 55R51) calibrated with the manual system Dantec 54H10. The measurement grid adopted is formed by 20 nodes in the Y direction (main flow direction) and 10 nodes in the X direction.

Extremely Gusty Winds from a Viewpoint of Aerodynamic Force

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junji Maeda ◽  
Takashi Takeuchi ◽  
Eriko Tomokiyo ◽  
Yukio Tamura
Keyword(s):  
Wind Speed ◽  
Wind Tunnel ◽  
Rise Time ◽  
Aerodynamic Force ◽  
Step Function ◽  
Object Size ◽  
Aerodynamic Forces ◽  
Wind Force ◽  
Wind Observation

To quantitatively investigate a gusty wind from the viewpoint of aerodynamic forces, a wind tunnel that can control the rise time of a step-function-like gust was devised and utilized. When the non-dimensional rise time, which is calculated using the rise time of the gusty wind, the wind speed, and the size of an object, is less than a certain value, the wind force is greater than under the corresponding steady wind. Therefore, this wind force is called the “overshoot wind force” for objects the size of orbital vehicles in an actual wind observation. The finding of the overshoot wind force requires a condition of the wind speed recording specification and depends on the object size and the gusty wind speed.

scholarly journals An Optimized Flutter-Driven Triboelectric Nanogenerator with a Low Cut-In Wind Speed

Micromachines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 366
Author(s):  
Yang Xia ◽  
Yun Tian ◽  
Lanbin Zhang ◽  
Zhihao Ma ◽  
Huliang Dai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Wind Speed ◽  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
Wind Energy ◽  
Output Power ◽  
Open Circuit Voltage ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Triboelectric Nanogenerator ◽  
Vibration Behavior ◽  
Air Speed

We present an optimized flutter-driven triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) for wind energy harvesting. The vibration and power generation characteristics of this TENG are investigated in detail, and a low cut-in wind speed of 3.4 m/s is achieved. It is found that the air speed, the thickness and length of the membrane, and the distance between the electrode plates mainly determine the PTFE membrane’s vibration behavior and the performance of TENG. With the optimized value of the thickness and length of the membrane and the distance of the electrode plates, the peak open-circuit voltage and output power of TENG reach 297 V and 0.46 mW at a wind speed of 10 m/s. The energy generated by TENG can directly light up dozens of LEDs and keep a digital watch running continuously by charging a capacitor of 100 μF at a wind speed of 8 m/s.

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