Employing a unique nozzle design, all AEROLAB supersonic wind tunnels offer “on-the-fly” Mach number adjustability.
Virtually all Aerospace and Mechanical engineering curricula include courses in compressible flow. For students, wind tunnel experience with shock and expansion waves makes an excellent addition to theoretical studies.
AEROLAB offers variable Mach number supersonic wind tunnels in test section sizes from 1-inch x 1-inch (2.54cm x 2.54cm) to 12-inch x 12-inch (30.5cm x 30.5cm). AEROLAB can supply complete supersonic wind tunnel systems including compressors, dryers and plumbing. Contact AEROLAB with your specifications for a quote.
AEROLAB Variable-Mach-number wind tunnels are available in two configurations:
“Console”
- Available for 1-inch (2.54cm) and 2-inch (5.08cm) systems only
“Standard”
- 3”x3” (7.6cm x 7.6cm), 4”x4” (10.2cm x 10.2cm), 6”x6” (15.2cm x 15.2cm), 8”x8” (20.3cm x 20.3cm), and 12”x12” (30.5cm x 30.5cm) systems
Configurations
Console systems are complete, compact supersonic wind tunnel laboratories requiring only compressed air. These systems include an oil separator, a heatless desiccant air dryer, ASME Code storage and stagnation tanks, an electro-mechanical pressure control valve, a complete Schlieren system, a set of four models, a model positioning “quadrant” and a diffuser.
Standard systems include an electro-mechanical pressure valve, an ASME Code stagnation tank, the supersonic wind tunnel and diffuser. These systems require a compressor, oil separator, dryer, storage tank and all associated plumbing (available from AEROLAB).
Common Applications
- Supersonic research and educational demonstration
Performance Specifications
Nominal Mach Number Range:
- 1.5 to 3.5 for one-inch and two-inch systems
- 1.4 to 4.0 for all other systems
Data Acquisition, Display and Control System
This system displays (real time) and records storage tank pressure, stagnation pressure, stagnation tank total temperature, nozzle block position, test section static pressure, “sting” force balance output (optional) and model pitch angle (only available with optional motor control).
The system controls stagnation pressure, calibrated nozzle block position and optional model pitch angle. Based on a desired Mach number, the program offers an approximate stagnation set point. A Dell desktop computer and an executable LabVIEW file (LabVIEW software is not needed.) are supplied with the system.
Electro-mechanical Pressure Valve
- Controlled by LabVIEW, this device provides fast ramp-up and stable stagnation pressure.
Stagnation Tank
- An ASME Code (certified to 200 psi – 1.28 MPa) bell-shaped tank with a steel perforated flow-smoothing baffle plate acts as a “stagnation” or “settling” chamber.
Type
- High Speed
Performance Specifications
Nominal Mach Number Range:
- 1.5 to 3.5 for one-inch and two-inch systems
- 1.4 to 4.0 for all other systems
Questionnaire
The following questionnaire is intended to streamline the initial design process of your new AEROLAB Supersonic Wind Tunnel. Please answer the questions as carefully and thoroughly as possible and maintain a common units system (ex. Inches, feet, meters, pounds, etc.). Double-check all measurements and include additional information and/or photographs as needed to facilitate understanding.