Design and Installation of a Control System for an Open-Circuit Wind Tunnel

Abstract

Wind Tunnel is a chamber used by aerodynamicists to conduct various tests to acquire aerodynamics forces on a scaled model as wind speed and angle of attack will be varied in this experimental set-up. This study focused on the design and installation of a control system for an open circuit wind tunnel to monitor and manipulate certain parameters for airfoil testing, specifically angle of attack and wind speed. Through the designed control system, trials for the analysis of aerodynamic performance of a sample airfoil were conducted by determining the lift and drag forces acting upon the airfoil that is being tested. The researchers integrated a data logger to the control system for the real-time recording of the data gathered throughout the test for further analysis. In this study, the control system for the open circuit wind tunnel consists of the following sensors and electrical components: a 3D printed pitot tube for the wind speed reading, a fan for the airflow generation, a servomotor for the control of the angle of attack of the airfoil, multiple load cells for the lift and drag forces readings, a data logger for the data collection, and a smoke generator to allow the flow visualization occurring around the airfoil. The researchers also conducted the calibration of each component of the control system to ensure accurate results for experiments that were conducted.