ASE recently completed a contract with Boeing to upgrade the performance and flow quality of an existing Transonic Wind Tunnel.
This wind tunnel is a major aerodynamic research facility used by Boeing to develop and validate literally all of its commercial airplane aerodynamic designs. This tunnel has operated continuously since 1942. The configuration is a closed circuit tunnel with an 8 ft. x 12 ft. test section operating at atmospheric total pressure.
ASE’s scope of work involved replacing essentially all of the return circuit of the wind tunnel – from the exit of the fan drive to the inlet of the test section. ASE replaced the existing air exchanger with a heat exchanger and replaced the old concrete shell with a new steel shell. New flow conditioning elements (honeycomb and turning vanes) were also installed to provide state-of-the-art flow quality for the upgraded facility. ASE’s design approach for the entire modification was validated at our FluiDyne Aerotest Laboratory using a scale model of the Boeing facility.
Maintaining schedule on this project was critical to Boeing. The project was planned so as to minimize the impact of the shutdown on the development of Boeing’s products. For example, the tunnel sections were fully pre-assembled in the factory to reduce the on-site construction schedule. The major Seattle earthquake occurred during the on-site checkout phase of the project. Despite this major setback, final project acceptance was achieved within one month of the original schedule.
ASE’s design included a novel application of a state-of-the-art heat exchanger to the wind tunnel circuit. By using this design, ASE was able to eliminate the need for a wide angle diffuser (WAD) and significantly improve the tunnel flow quality without flow conditioning screens. A US patent by ASE is pending for the use of plate-fin heat exchangers in wind tunnel circuits.
New sections being delivered
On-site construction activity
Partial view of the complete project
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