Recirculating Vertical Wind Tunnel With Contracted Corner Flowpath
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Solution Overview
Problem
Recirculating vertical wind tunnels are expensive to build and operate, require substantial space, and face challenges with excavation depth and structural integrity, especially when the flight chamber is near ground level, leading to increased construction costs and risks.
Innovation Solution
A recirculating vertical wind tunnel design with a reduced height between the flight chamber and the base of the flowpath structure, incorporating a contracting corner that merges the inlet contractor and fourth corner into a single structure, and utilizing a dual-stage airflow contraction to maintain airflow quality and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the flight chamber is positioned at or near ground level to improve commercial visibility and accessibility, then structural integrity is augmented and building costs are reduced, but substantial underground excavation is required which increases construction costs and project timeframes exponentially with depth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a conventional horizontal layout requiring substantial underground excavation to a vertical configuration where the flight chamber extends upward from a compact underground base. This dimensional change allows the flight chamber to be positioned at or near ground level for commercial visibility and accessibility while minimizing the depth of underground excavation through the contracted corner design and vertical stacking of flowpath components.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional poured cement is used to form the bottom portions of the wind tunnel to reduce construction costs, then simple geometries are achieved, but the flowpath cross section geometries are limited compared to custom preformed fabrications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the inlet contractor and fourth corner into a single contracted corner structure that is integrally formed with the underground base. This consolidation allows the complex three-dimensional flowpath geometry to be created as a monolithic poured concrete structure, achieving both cost efficiency through conventional construction methods and the required aerodynamic geometry through careful structural design.
3Ease of operation
If turning vanes are installed in the lower airflow plenums to redirect airflow upward into the flight chamber, then airflow direction is controlled, but the complexity of the structure increases and potential sources of turbulence are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the turning vanes from the lower airflow plenums by redesigning the contracted corner geometry to inherently redirect airflow upward into the flight chamber. The smooth transitional surfaces of the contracted corner perform the flow redirection function that would otherwise require mechanical turning vanes, thereby reducing structural complexity and eliminating potential turbulence sources while maintaining effective airflow control.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design reduces construction costs and time, minimizes turbulence, and allows for efficient power consumption, while maintaining uniform airflow quality, making it viable for locations with height restrictions and reducing excavation costs by up to $1,000,000 USD.
Implementation Method 1
means for providing an airstream flowing through the airflow plenum and in the first vertical member in an upward direction; a flight chamber housed within the first vertical member of the airflow plenum
Implementation Method 2
the second section of the bottom horizontal member contracting the airflow travelling through the bottom horizontal member between the first section and its exit to the corner section
Implementation Method 3
the corner section further contracting the airflow exiting the second section of the bottom horizontal member towards the first vertical member
Data Source
Figure 1~1A
Figure 2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
Disclosed in this patent application is a turning vane structure for a corner of a vertical wind tunnel, the vertical wind tunnel forming a recirculating airflow plenum, the turning vane structure comprising: a frame structure at least partially positioned outside the recirculating airflow plenum; the frame structure includes two arches; the arches span between ends of a centerline; each arch is inclined at an angle relative to the horizontal plane; the arches extend in opposite directions from one another; and turning vanes mounted along each of the two arches, the turning vanes positioned inside the recirculating airflow plenum and configured to redirect airflow through the corner.