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Prepared By:

Hardik Patel
Roll No:11me03
Dhruv Patel
Roll No:11me20
Priyam Patel
Roll No:11ME21
Hardik Pathak
Roll No:11me59
Guided By:
Mr. Ravish Patel

FLOW VISUALIZATION IN
WIND TUNNEL FOR
ANALYSSI OF
AERODYNAMIC SHAPE
ANALYSIS
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING (SEM 7)
Vadodara Institute of Engineering,
Kotambi

ABSTRACT
Flow visualization is a technique in experimental fluid mechanics that renders
certain properties of a flow field directly accessible to visual perception. In
general and under normal circumstances, most fluids, gaseous or liquid, are
transparent media, and their motion must remain invisible to the human eye
during direct observation, unless a technique allowing visualization of the flow
is applied. The technique of marking flow lines or structures in an air stream by
means of smoke is, in principle, the same as visualizing the flow pattern of a
liquid by the injection of dye. Although it is application is not restricted to wind
tunnels, smoke visualization is a standard experimental tool for these facilities,
and its technical advancement is closely related to the history of wind tunnels.
This final year project is intended to design and fabricate a wind tunnel
equipped with smoke flow visualization facility for the experimental
research at our institutes Fluid Mechanics Laboratory. The aim is to make a
2-dimensional flow visualization set-up, which can aid for experiments related
to flow over various 2D test profiles. The term smoke can be used in a wide
sense. It is not only restricted to combustion products, but can also include
steam, vapour, aerosols and mist. Desired properties for a tracer are neutral
buoyancy, stability against mixing, etc. Considering the economics, ease of use
and availability, kerosene has been selected to generate smoke. In this project,
we will study about effect of air and the values of lift and drag over an airfoil
and cylinder at different angle of attack.

OUTLINE

LITERATURE REVIEW
INTRODUCTION
SMOKE VISUALIZATION
TCHNIQUE
DESIGN CALCULATION AND
DESIGN
EXPECTED OUTCOME

LITERATURE REVIEW
1. Design of Various Components of Open Circuit Wind Tunnel
RanjanBasak and DebojyotiMitra stated that a wind tunnel is an essential tool
in engineering, both for model tests and basic research. To ensure a controlled
return flow, most of the tunnels are designed as a closed circuit type. However,
it is possible to achieve high performance from an open circuit tunnel, therefore
saving space and construction cost. For easy of changing the working section
the exit diffuser is often omitted from open circuit blower tunnels at the cost of
power factor greater than unity. In this paper detail design procedure is
discussed for open circuit blower tunnel without exit diffuser.
The aerodynamic design of open circuit wind tunnel driven by a centrifugal
blower connected to the settling chamber by a wide angle diffuser is discussed.
The design or choice of blower, diffuser, screens, contraction and working
section are described here. They have a strong influence on tunnel performance.
The design rules and suggestions are mainly based on data collected from
successful blower tunnel design. The design of blower driven wind tunnel is a
combination of arts, science and common sense, the last being the essential. It is
difficult and unwise to predict firm rules for tunnel design. This is mainly due
to the wide variety of tunnel design and the lack of understanding of the flow
through wind tunnel components like diffuser, screen and blower itself. It is
more feasible and sensible to predict design boundaries based on the data from
existing tunnels which are known to perform satisfactorily.

2. Flow Visualization in Wind Tunnel


MuzafferuddinMahmood stated that Flow visualization is an experimental
means of examining the flow patterns around a body or over its surface. The
flow is visualized by introducing dye, smoke or pigment into the flow in the
area under investigation. The primary advantage of such a method is its ability
to provide a description of the flow over a model without a complicated data
reduction and analysis. Smoke- flow visualization (described by Bradshaw,
1970 and Rae and Pope 1984) involves the injection of streams of vapour into
the flow. The vapour follows filament lines (lines made up of all the fluid
particles passing through the injection points) in steady flow the filament lines
are identical to stream lines. (Lines everywhere tangent to the velocity vector).
Smoke- flow visualization thus reveals the entire flow pattern around a body. It
is difficult to exaggerate the value of flow visualization. The ability to see flow
pattern on a model often gives insight into a solution to an aerodynamic
problem. Flow visualization can be divided into two broad categories the first is
surface flow visualization when the visualization media is applied to the surface
such as tufts and oil flow etc.

The second type is off surface such as smoke and streams.There are basically
four methods of recording the flow visualization test are showed above.Because
of the depth perception one can see a three dimensional picture. The other three
common methods of recording the result of flow visualization are by film,
either still or movie or television camera or video and magnetic tapes. It must
be realized that all three of these methods are using a two dimensional medium
to often record a three dimensional phenomena. This is especially fine when
using a smoke or helium bubbles to trace flow stream lines pass the model. All
three of these methods can be used either black and white or color. The
photography methods while recording more time for developing and printing
stills, when compared to video, yield higher resolution.

3. CFD Analysis
SelviRajan ,Santhoshkumar., Lakshmanan
In order to understand the physical phenomena of the wind flow over the
typical launch vehicle, the flow was simulated using both Wind tunnel and
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). In the present study, tests were
conducted on a 1:50 scaled model of a launch vehicle. The model was subjected
to two wind conditions, wind flow normal to the shorter plan dimension = 0 ,
where the three main cylinders of the model were one behind the other and
wind flow normal to the longer plan dimension, = 90 , where all the three main
cylinders of the vehicle are subjected to direct wind pressure in the windward
direction. Based on the CFD studies, the flow pattern and the force
coefficients were derived. To validate these results, wind tunnel tests were
carried out on a 1:50 scaled rigid and light-weight models respectively, for
obtaining path lines and force coefficients. Results on streamlines obtained
based on CFD simulation and wind tunnel experiments compared very well.
The force coefficients in both directions were evaluated from CFD results
showed good agreement with the corresponding measured values based on wind
tunnel experiment.

4. Performance Analysis on Airfoil Model in Wind Tunnel Testing Machine


(WTTM)
A Wind Tunnel Testing Machine (WTTM) is a tool used in Aerodynamic
research to study the effects of Air moving past to the solid objects. A wind
tunnel testing machine consists of a closed tubular passage with the object
under test mounted in the middle and powerful fan system moves air past to the
object. The wing (airfoil) provides lift by creating a situation where the pressure
above the wing is lower than the pressure below the wing. Since the pressure
below the wing is higher than the pressure above the wing. The readings has
been taken on airfoil model in Wind Tunnel Testing Machine (WTTM) at
different air velocity 20m/sec, 25m/sec, 30m/sec and different angle of attack
00,50,100,150,200. Air velocity and pressures are measured in several ways in
wind tunnel testing machine by use to measuring instruments like Anemometer
and Multi tube manometer. The Surface roughness of an airfoil is can be
measure by Surface roughness tester. The heat signature of a testing model is
can be measure by Thermal Imaging Camera. The CFD analysis is also carried
out at various sections of airfoil angles and velocity. The maximum
performance to the airfoil model is achieved at 100 on angle of attack.

5. The wind tunnel performance investigation by using the modeling and


simulation
The wind tunnel is considered as an important device to test the aerodynamic
performance of the different bodies, the function of it is to imitate the controlled
wind speed of optimal environment that facing the model for unlimited time to
obtain the aerodynamic steady-state experimental results. The wind tunnel
performance depends on the characteristic of the air stream passing through
test-section, the aim of this research is to investigate the viability of the wind
tunnel that exist in the gas- dynamic laboratory of the Damascus university, by
comparison the experimental results as forces and coefficients of lift and drag
for three difference types of the airfoils (NACA6410, Sg6043, NACA7308)
with the results of the advanced program specific for design and define the
airfoil characteristic which called (Design Foil R6) prepared by Illinois
university.

6. Analysis of Aerofoil Blade using ANSYS for a Vehicle Mounted Micro


Wind Turbine
Energy is the primary and most universal measure of all kinds of work by
human beings and nature. Everything that happens in the world is an expression
of energy in one of its forms. Energy can neither be created nor be destroyed.
It can only be converted from one form into another. So can wind energy be
converted from one form to another? Wind energy is readily converted into
mechanical energy through the
turbine blades and is further converted into electrical energy by connecting the
turbine to an electrical generator. In this paper we analyze the aerofoil cross
section blade using ANSYS 10.0 and show the velocity profile for a blade
which is positioned parallel to the flow of wind and another blade which is
tilted at a certain angle to the flow of the wind. This paper also visualizes the
use of a variable geometry blade to minimize the drag when the wind flows
over the blade.

7. CFD Analysis of Pressure Coefficient for NACA 4412Wind Turbine


In this paper NACA 4412 airfoil profile is considered for analysis of wind
turbine blade. Geometry of the airfoil is created using GAMBIT 2.4.6. And
CFD analysis is carried out using FLUENT 6.3.26 at various angles of attack
from 0 to 12. Variations of pressure coefficient are plotted in form of contour
for1 105 Reynolds number.
8. Computational Design and Analysis of Flatback Airfoil Wind Tunnel
Experiment
A computational fluid dynamics study of thick wind turbine section shapes in
the test section of the UC Davis wind tunnel at a chord Reynolds number of one
million is presented. The goals of this study are to validate standard wind tunnel
wall corrections for high solid blockage conditions and to reaffirm the favorable
effect of a blunt trailing edge or flat back on the performance characteristics of
a representative thick airfoil shape prior to building the wind tunnel models and
conducting the experiment. The numerical
Simulations prove the standard wind tunnel corrections to be largely valid for
the proposed test of 40% maximum thickness to chord ratio airfoils at a solid
blockage ratio of 10%. Comparison of the computed lift characteristics of a
sharp trailing edge baseline airfoil and derived flat back airfoils reaffirms the
earlier observed trend of reduced sensitivity to surface contamination with
increasing trailing edge thickness.

9. ANSYS Workbench Tutorial Flow Over an Airfoil


This tutorial provides instructions for creating a fluid volume and mesh around
a NACA 4314 airfoil and for analysing the flow in FLUENT. It also shows how
to use multiple fluid bodies and edge sizing to create a c-mesh. The entire
meshed fluid field and a portion of the mesh near the airfoil are shown below.

INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION IS DEVIDED IN TWO PARTS

FLOW VISUALIZATION
TECHNIQUE

WIND TUNNEL

FLOW VISUALIZATION TECHNIQUE


Flow visualization is a technique for examining the flow pattern on object
body over its surface and pressure distribution behind the object.
Why it is require?
Most fluids, gaseous or liquid, are transparent media, and their motion remains
invisible to the human eye during direct observation.
Therefore, techniques allowing visualization of the flow usually referred to as
flow visualization need to be developed to understand fluid behavior under
different conditions.
The object such as :
airfoil
cylinder
aerodynamic models
Can be tested by this technique.

FLOW VISUALIZATION TECHNIQUE


Flow visualization techniques:
Hydrogen Bubble:
Using a platinum cathode, hydrogen bubbles are formed using electrolytic
method.
The size of the bubble formed is approximately 0.1 mm. Illumination
causes internal reflections within the bubbles which facilitate the
visualization of the flow.
This method can completely trace the flow over a body or complex flow
field.
Smoke flow visualization :
This is one of the oldest methods of flow visualization.
Light, non-poisonous, and contaminants-free smoke is injected into the
flow through an array of nozzles, which facilitates visualization of flow.
Usually oils, especially kerosene, are used to generate smoke. Oil is
heated around its boiling temperature to produced colored smoke.

FLOW VISUALIZATION TECHNIQUE


Sufrace oil flow:
Coloured oil flows is used on the surfaces to
visualize the flow around the object.

Fog:
Fog (wet water particles) is used to visualize
the flow.

WIND TUNNEL
A wind tunnel is a tool used in aerodynamic research to study the effects
of air moving past solid objects. A wind tunnel consists of a tubular
passage with the object under test mounted in the middle. Air is made to
move past the object by a powerful fan system or other means.

Wind Tunnel Types:


Based on Design as :

Open type wind tunnel


Closed type wind tunnel
Aerodynamic wind tunnel
Low turbulence wind tunnel

Based on flow speed as:

Subsonic (low speed) wind tunnel


Transonic wind tunnel
Supersonic wind tunnel
Hypersonic wind tunnel

Based on working fan as:


Blower type wind tunnel
Suction type wind tunnel

For the experimental purpose low speed wind tunnel is used.

Main Component :

Settling Chamber
Contraction cone
Test Section
Diffuser
Drive(Exit) Section

Reynolds number (Re) is a dimensionless number


that gives a ratio of inertial forces to viscous forces.
Reynolds Number
When Reynolds Number is
Re < 300000 , the flow is called as Laminar flow whereas
Re > 500000, the flow is called as Turbulent flow.

Mach Number (Ma) is a dimensionless quantity representing the ratio of


speed of an object moving through a fluid and the local speed of sound.

Following are the range of mach number.


For subsonic wind tunnel mach number should be less
than 0.8.

Mach Number (Ma) is a dimensionless quantity representing the ratio of


speed of an object moving through a fluid and the local speed of sound.

Following are the range of mach number.


For subsonic wind tunnel mach number should be less
than 0.8.

DESIGNCALCULATION AND DESIGN

Main component of Wind tunnel:


Blower
Settling chamber

Contraction Cone
Test Section
Diffusor section

DESIGNCALCULATION AND DESIGN


Blower:
Centrifugal blower is used to get desire air flow.
Centrifugal blower is almost always of the backward-airfoil or squirrel-cage
type. These blowers are usually made of cast metal.

DESIGNCALCULATION AND DESIGN


Settling Chamber:

The settling chamber straightens the airflow.


The settling chamber usually includes a honeycomb flow
straightener and wire mesh smoothing screens that produce a
smooth airflow
The honeycomb structure of a settling chamber is very effective at
reducing swirling currents in the tunnel airflow.

DESIGNCALCULATION AND DESIGN


Contraction Cone:

The contraction or "nozzle" accelerates the flow from


the settling chamber into the test section.

DESIGNCALCULATION AND DESIGN


Test Section:

The object, flow past which is to be observed is placed


in the section. If the diffuser, the settling chamber and
the contracting section are designed properly the test section
will have uniform velocity at every point in test section.

Cross section = 50 x 50 cm2


Length= 75 cm

DESIGNCALCULATION AND DESIGN


Diffuser Section:

A diffuser in which the cross-sectional area increases so rapidly that


separation can be avoided only by using boundary layer control.

MODELING OF WIND TUNNEL

MODELING OF WIND TUNNEL

EXPECTED OUTCOME
Mechanics Laboratory has been appreciated in terms of its potential to help
understand flow and its effect over various profiles.
Pressure interactions in the form of lift and drag, and observing qualitative
flow properties like flow separation.
Circulations and vortices, etc. Smoke has been selected for flow visualization
in the setup.
Various techniques of flow visualization for experiment purpose have been
studied and analyzed.
Fabrication of the wind tunnel has been completed according to the design.
Experiments have been carried out on various objects and results have been
analyzed.
A numerical simulation of flow past similar bodies using CFD software
developed and has been carried out.
In this project, students will study about the effect of air and the values of lift
and drag over an airfoil and cylinder at different angle of attack.
Efficient measurement of flow visualization.
Also we can easy to understand about smoke generation and stream line.

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