Design of a High Reynolds Number Recirculating Water Tunnel Introduction and Objectives Design Objective: Design a high optical access water tunnel for high Reynolds number turbulent boundary layer research using flow diagnostic tools
Mr. Libin Daniel
Dr. Brian R. Elbing
[email protected] Graduate Student Research Assistant
[email protected] Assistant Professor
Water Tunnel Overview
Flow Conditioning
Test Section
Settling Chamber
Diffuser
Applications: • • • •
Fundamental Fluid Mechanics Research Naval Surface Ship Drag Reduction Aerodynamic/Hydrodynamic Model Testing Multiphase Flow Experiments
Honeycomb
• Test Section Speed: 10 m/s (33 ft/s) • Flow Rate: 4500 gpm • Max Pressure: 40 psi
Contraction Pump
Existing Water Tunnels Reθ > 105 WORLD’S LARGEST
Water Tunnel Components
Test Section NAVSEA, LCC
Reθ ~
104
Honeycomb Section
• Straightens out flow (removes swirl) • Sizing (Lumley,1976)
CUSTOM TUNNELS
UNIV. OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
• Purpose/Design • Flat-plate TBL theory design (White, 2006) • TBL near-wall PIV studies
Reθ ≤ 103
Pump
PSU ARL, GTWT
CURRENT TUNNEL DESIGN
Mini-LCC
Flow Conditioning
UNIV. OF MICHIGAN
COMMERCIAL
• Construction • Stainless steel frame and flanges • Acrylic windows (1.75” thick) • Top injector plate (dye/polymer port)
• Design Point: Reθ = 104
• Cross section: 6”×6” (15.2 cm × 15.2 cm) • Length: 40” (1 m)
Oklahoma State University – School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
• • • • • •
Patterson HSC 12X10X12 Flow Capacity: 4500 GPM @ 100 ft of head Motor: 150 HP Upstream: 10” NPS schedule 10s SS 304 Downstream: 10” X 20” SS 304 rolled cone 12” Suction; 10” Discharge
Diffuser
• Purpose
• Length: 24”; Cell Size: 1”
• Stainless Steel
Settling Chamber
• Reduce turbulence (Wetzel et al.) • Dimension: 36” length, 18” dia.
Contraction
• Purpose • Reduce flow speed • Increase flow speed • Square to round • Reduce turbulence cross-section • Avoid flow separation • Construction • Area ratio: 8.5 • Dimensions: 3° half• Length: 30” angle, 30” length • Material: fiberglass • Material: fiberglass 12th June 2014
