Checklist

Once you've completed installation of your test article, follow these steps when ready to power-up the tunnel.

Note that this checklist only covers baseline operation of the tunnel itself and the air flow meter. The operation of any other equipment is regarded as experiment-specific and thus should be covered in its own checklist.

Prepare the space

• Clear the inlet area of any foreign objects

• Clear the outlet area of any foreign objects

• Ensure tunnel side panels are securely fastened

• Clear the test section of any tools, parts, or any other object not part of the test article

• Perform the Fan and Transition Inspection

  • Check to make sure the Fan has not moved on the stand. The four black lines should be fully visible and parallel to the Fan legs

  • Look through the windows on BOTH sides of the fan and THOROUGHLY inspect the taping of the transition tarp.

    • Make sure there are no pieces of tape that have come undone during the previous usage.

    • Check the ENTIRE circumference of the taped area on both the inlet and outlet of the transition tarp.

  • If there are any issues with this step, you will not be able to test. Contact Venkat Putcha

Prepare the instruments

• Visually check that the front-most pitot-static tube is facing directly into the flow within 0-5 degrees of the freestream

  • If it is not, DO NOT attempt to straighten it yourself - email Venkat Putcha who will arrange for it to be fixed

• Power on the FlowKinetics air flow meter and follow the prompts to calibrate

  • Wait for a prompt that asks you to set molecular weight. You will press "Zero" to select 287 for air.

  • Wait for a prompt that asks for a pitot correction factor. You will press "Zero" to set 1

  • Flowkinetics will calibrate and zero itself

  • Set the FlowKinetics selector switch to your desired speed unit and verify that the measured flow speed, V1, is <1 m/s

If the FlowKinetics was already on when you entered, you may want to consider power cycling it and re-calibrating to account for any changes to ambient conditions.

Power on the tunnel

• Turn on the master breaker switch

• Ensure all personnel are inside the control room and close the door

• Run the initial safety test — To be run at the start of your test program and anytime you change something in the test section!!

  • On the fan control panel, set the control dial to 20% of maximum power

  • Press RUN - the fan will start spooling up

  • As the fan accelerates, keep an eye on the test section and the outlet area - covering the STOP button in case anything untoward happens

  • Check Flowkinetics to make sure the airspeed is ~5.5 m/s. If it is significantly different, power the tunnel down and recheck the transition tarp and the pitot probe.

    • Note: If your test article has a large cross section area, the airspeed may be lower than ~5.5 m/s

  • Verify your test article is secure and there are no visible hazards once the fan has reached steady-state.

  • Report any issues to Venkat Putcha

• Run the max load test — To be run at the start of your test program and anytime you change something in the test section!!

  • On the fan control panel, set the desired speed to the highest setting you will use during the test (maximum is ideal, if your test article can take it)

    • The current tunnel is speed limited to 50% maximum power. This equates to 16.7 m/s for an empty test section

  • As the fan accelerates, keep an eye on the test section and the outlet area - covering the STOP button in case anything untoward happens

  • Verify your test article is secure and there are no visible hazards once the fan has reached steady-state

• Perform your experiments

  • Adjust the power dial until you achieve your desired air speed

  • You may start/stop the fan or change the airflow speed as many times as you desire

    • Try to limit start/stop cycles as much as possible

    • Try your best to to stop the fan only if you need to change something in the test section or you will be taking a break longer than 5 minutes. Optimize your testing accordingly

  • To power down the tunnel, hit the STOP button on the control panel. Wait ~30 seconds for the fan to spool down.

• SAFETY INFORMATION

  • You MUST have at least 2 people present during all testing!

  • If you need to go out of the control room, you may now do so using ONLY the door nearest the computer.

  • You MUST wear eye protection if exiting the control room.

  • You can wear hearing protection, but this is not required.

  • NEVER go in the test section, stand at the outlet, or stand at the inlet while the tunnel is running!

  • If anything is changed in the test section, you must re-run the initial safety test and max loads tests outlined above

Wind Tunnel Shutdown Procedure

• Turn the speed dial down as low as it will go (~10%)

• Hit the STOP button on the fan control panel

• Wait ~30 seconds for the fan to spool down

• Turn off the master breaker switch

• Perform the Fan and Transition Inspection

  • Check to make sure the Fan has not moved on the stand. The four black lines should be fully visible and parallel to the Fan legs

  • Look through the windows on BOTH sides of the fan and THOROUGHLY inspect the taping of the transition tarp.

    • Make sure there are no pieces of tape that have come undone during the previous usage.

    • Check the ENTIRE circumference of the taped area on both the inlet and outlet of the transition tarp.

• Power off the FlowKinetics air flow meter

• Tidy all areas and remove your test article and all equipment/tools

• Report any issues/malfunctions to Venkat Putcha