pic: Wind tunnel
 

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Is there any protection from foreign object (test items) from being sucked into the blades?

What kind of wind speeds can that tunnel produce?

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It'd be my guess that that fan blows air, not sucks it, thus no problem with FOD.

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Where is this wind tunnel located?

I interned at the NASA Ames Wind Tunnel, which had 6, 40 foot diameter fans powering the tunnel. Depending on which test sections were being used, it either sucked air from the test section, blew air into the test section, or both, via cycling the air.

My guess is, depending on the test section size and fan speed, this wind tunnel can pull about 100 knots if it is the only fan drive. If there are more fans that speed will obviously increase. Cool field trip.

Re: pic: Wind tunnel
 

Based on the team location I would say it is a fair assumption to assume this is at an automotive R&D facility.


Did they let you stand in the tunnel with some of the lower wind speeds? I once did that at university of maryland and it was an experience I will never forget.

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Notice the blur of the fan blades? :yikes:

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The wind tunnel is at the Chrysler Technology Center in Auburn Hills Mi. Interesting story we were told: During the initial installation of the tunnel they could not get the scales that the car’s tires sit on to stabilize as they were trying to calibrate them. They resolved the problem by turning off the heating and cooling system to the room, they found that the air flow and change in pressure was the reason the scales would not stabilize. That was not the only issue; they also found they were picking up the vibrations from semi trucks as they were traveling the roads around the Tech Center. Accuracy…..quality…..they don’t mess around. The tour was very impressive for students and adults. We did not stand in the tunnel while it was in operation. We did walk the whole circuit and test the unbelievable acoustics :D

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All i have to say is that would be an amazing experience. SWEET:yikes:

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I would love to see the motor powering it and see it in action!!! (off to youtube to see if anyone posted a video :D )

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YouTube? Pat and Co are lucky to have even a still photo from this secure location.

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No way anyone would be allowed to stand there if the fan was moving. No way no how.

OK, maybe in a James Bond movie, where you wanted to slice up the villain...:ahh:

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They normally let you spin the blade by hand to get an idea of the inertia and how good the bearings are. It might still be moving from that.

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That will be an experience not easily forgotten. Very cool!

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I would love to see one of these bad boys in action.

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We (The Killer Bees) have been on that tour before. That wind tunnel is so cool. I'm glad you guys enjoyed it too.

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imagine trying to make that fit onto a FIRST robot. it would be quite a challenge to make it fit the size a weight constraints.

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I was just thinking, I really love how it is colored because it makes it look really childish and unreal. I just love staring at that pic lol.

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My favorite quote from the tour was that the Motor is so powerful, the city of Auburn Hills asks them not to turn it up all the way in the summer because of the current draw.

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can't you just rig it to work like a generator too (can't help it but I like multi tasking :P)

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FOD... a jet engines worst enemy.... ;)

Where was this taken? Thats one of the biggest wind tunnels I've ever seen.

Of course , we don't have those here in Chicago (at least not that I know of). We get to Fermilab (across the street from my house- literally , and nuclear power plants ;)

Very cool pic!

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awww yes!!