Variable Atmospheric Condition Testing Apparatus for Continuous Wind Tunnel Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wind tunnels are limited in their ability to conduct continuous testing under varying airflow or air pressure conditions, as they require frequent shutdowns and can only operate for short durations due to the limitations of buffer tanks maintaining test section pressure.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable variable atmospheric condition testing apparatus with an outer and inner chamber, a vacuum pump, an intake valve, and sensors that allow for continuous operation and adjustment of gas flow and pressure within a range of 0.3-2.0 Mach, enabling testing under variable conditions without the need for buffer tanks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If a buffer tank is used to maintain test section pressure in a wind tunnel, then pressure control is achieved, but the testing duration is limited to approximately eight seconds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the buffer tank component from the wind tunnel system entirely. Instead of using a buffer tank to maintain pressure, the system uses a vacuum pump connected to a vacuum chamber that can continuously evacuate gas from the test section, enabling indefinite testing duration while maintaining pressure control through the vacuum pump's continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum pump operates continuously to maintain the vacuum environment in the test section, allowing the wind tunnel to run indefinitely without the time limitation imposed by buffer tanks. The continuous evacuation of gas ensures stable pressure conditions throughout the testing period.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the airflow or air pressure conditions are changed in a traditional wind tunnel, then new testing conditions are achieved, but the wind tunnel must be shut down
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a movable diaphragm that can be repositioned to change the volume of the test section dynamically. This allows the wind tunnel to adjust airflow and pressure conditions continuously during operation without shutdown. The diaphragm's movement creates variable testing conditions while the vacuum pump maintains the vacuum environment throughout the adjustment process.
3Stress or pressure
If a vacuum pump is used to remove gas from the test section, then ultra-low pressure conditions are achieved, but gas removal efficiency must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the system into an inner test section and an outer vacuum chamber, with the vacuum pump acting on the outer chamber. This segmentation allows the vacuum pump to efficiently remove gas from the larger outer chamber while the smaller inner test section maintains ultra-low pressure conditions. The diaphragm separates the two regions, enabling independent pressure management.
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
Enables long-duration testing of aerodynamic structures under ultra-low pressure and high-speed conditions, allowing for continuous operation and real-time adjustments of airflow and pressure, overcoming the limitations of traditional wind tunnels.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum pump configured to remove gas from the inner and outer chambers
Implementation Method 2
the introduced gas interacts with the object
Implementation Method 3
a sensor positioned downstream of the object and configured to detect a characteristic of the gas interacting with the object
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable variable atmospheric condition testing apparatus for testing an object includes an outer chamber, an inner chamber positioned inside and in fluid communication with the outer chamber, a vacuum pump configured to remove gas from the inner and outer chambers, and further configured to expel the removed gas via an exhaust, an intake configured to selectively introduce gas from ambient into the inner chamber via a valve, such that the introduced gas interacts with the object, and a sensor positioned downstream of the object and configured to detect a characteristic of the gas interacting with the object.