Universitat Rovira i Virgili

4Winds wind tunnel

The 4Winds wind tunnel is used for university research, technology transfer projects, as well as for educational and dissemination activities. It is an open circuit tunnel with a 1,5 x 1,5 x 4 m test section, protected with a safety cell. Equipped with 4 engines to generate a maximum air velocity of 15 m/s through the test section, with turbulence levels < 1% in the central section (0,8 x 0,8 m). It is equipped with air velocity (Pitot tubes) and 3D forces (load cells) measuring devices, as well as flow visualization systems.

Aplications

     R&D projects

     Studies for private companies

     Doctorates

     Master and bachelor’s thesis, and high school research projects

     Dissemination activities 

Specifications

     Impulsion: 4 axial engines 7,5 kW each and 4 ventilators 1m diameter

     Contraction 1,5:1

     Exit section: 1500 x 1500 mm2

     Uniform flow section 1200 x 1200 mm2

     Working speed: between 5 and 15 m/s

     Test zone: 4 meter long, enclosed inside a safety cell

     Turbulence level up to 1% in the central section of 0.8m x 0.8m

     Blockage ratio: front area up to 0,25 m2 allowed

Measuring and visualization devices

     Air speed: Pitot tubes 

     Force in the 3 axis (drag, lift and side force)

          - Burster 8523 (0 a 20 N) one-dimensional load cells

          - Changzhou T502B (0 a 50N) three-dimensional load cell 

     Data acquisition system NI USB 6009

     Smoke visualization 

     Tuft visualization

Other

     Also available

          Airfoils of different NACA profiles

          Vertical axis wind turbines

          Scale model cars

          3D printer to print other parts

          Ability to produce customised set-ups

Contact

     For any enquiry, please contact Lluís Vázquez (lluis.vazquez@urv.cat), tel. +34 977 558 775

     The installation can be visited (upon request)

Location

     Mechanical Engineering Department Labs

     Campus Sescelades

     Av. Països Catalans, 26

     43007 Tarragona