WO2019082115A1 - Soufflerie à recirculation transférable - Google Patents

Soufflerie à recirculation transférable

Info

Publication number
WO2019082115A1
WO2019082115A1 PCT/IB2018/058329 IB2018058329W WO2019082115A1 WO 2019082115 A1 WO2019082115 A1 WO 2019082115A1 IB 2018058329 W IB2018058329 W IB 2018058329W WO 2019082115 A1 WO2019082115 A1 WO 2019082115A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
wind tunnel
air flow
duct
recirculation circuit
fan device
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2018/058329
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Gianni MENGA
Original Assignee
Vertical Dwc Llc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Vertical Dwc Llc filed Critical Vertical Dwc Llc
Publication of WO2019082115A1 publication Critical patent/WO2019082115A1/fr

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01M—TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G01M9/00—Aerodynamic testing; Arrangements in or on wind tunnels
    • G01M9/02—Wind tunnels
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63G—MERRY-GO-ROUNDS; SWINGS; ROCKING-HORSES; CHUTES; SWITCHBACKS; SIMILAR DEVICES FOR PUBLIC AMUSEMENT
    • A63G31/00—Amusement arrangements
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63G—MERRY-GO-ROUNDS; SWINGS; ROCKING-HORSES; CHUTES; SWITCHBACKS; SIMILAR DEVICES FOR PUBLIC AMUSEMENT
    • A63G31/00—Amusement arrangements
    • A63G2031/005—Skydiving

Definitions

  • TITLE TRANSFERABLE RECIRCULATING WIND TUNNEL.
  • the invention relates to vertical wind tunnels, especially those adapted for the simulation of free fall of bodies, which are used for recreational purposes, for civil purposes and for military purposes. More in particular, the invention relates to wind tunnels with a recirculating air flow .
  • wind tunnels are known, in particular wind tunnels to perform simulations of free falls or parachuting, which are ducted and have a recirculating air flow or a non-recirculating air flow.
  • Ducted wind tunnels suffer from the drawback of having a large and complex structure.
  • ducted wind tunnels with a recirculating air flow are affected by a further drawback, which is due to the fact that they have a structure capable of generating a tortuous and, in any case, energetically costly air flow. Therefore, currently known ducted wind tunnels with a recirculating air flow can hardly be compacted and are impossible to be transported in order to be installed in different places in relatively short amounts of time.
  • the first step is that of choosing which type of wind tunnel to implement depending on the technical features of the project. This evaluation is carried out based on four parameters: energy efficiency, performances, initial manufacturing costs, and operating costs of the wind tunnel.
  • ducted wind tunnels ensure a very good efficiency and high performances, but, at the same time, they require high designing costs as well as high operating costs for the use thereof.
  • wind tunnels need to be manufactured with large dimensions, so that the air flow can be caused to circulate in the recirculation portion, on the outside of the flying chamber, at a low speed, so that friction and energy dissipation are reduced.
  • This type of wind tunnel further requires portions that are properly designed to increase the speed of the air flow when the air flow itself has to be introduced into the flying chamber, always without increasing load losses and/or friction dissipations .
  • the main evaluation parameters of a wind tunnel are the following: possibility of holding competitions; possibility of accommodating different users at the same time; high performances; suitability for beginners; reduced consumptions; independence from weather conditions; noiselessness ; building simplicity; compactness; maintenance frequency; capability of being installed inside other buildings.
  • wind tunnels must have a small acoustic impact, thus being very quiet, easy to be manufactured in their structures and do not occupy large spaces, hence being small-sized.
  • wind tunnels In order to have reduced consumptions and be independent of the environment where they are installed and, in particular, of weather conditions, wind tunnels must be recirculating wind tunnels and not non- recirculating wind tunnels.
  • wind tunnels In order to have a small acoustic impact, be small- sized and requiring a scheduled maintenance every 2 or 3 years, wind tunnels must have a light and economic structure.
  • the object of the invention is to solve the drawbacks present in the state of the art by providing a ducted wind tunnel with a recirculating air flow, which is small-sized, is easy to be manufactured and does not require civil works, so that it can be transported in an easy manner.
  • the invention provides a high-efficiency wind tunnel with a closed circuit or a recirculating air flow, which is capable of solving this and other drawbacks of the prior art and, furthermore, can be produced in a simple and economic fashion.
  • the invention allows manufacturers to produce a small and economic recirculating wind tunnel, for example with a width ranging from 9 to 10 meters, though ensuring an acceptable size of the flying chamber.
  • An aspect of the invention relates to a wind tunnel having the features set forth in appended claim 1.
  • FIG. 1 shows the wind tunnel according to the invention in a perspective view
  • figure 2 shows a possible embodiment of the wind tunnel of figure 1 in a front view
  • figure 3 shows the section relative to a vertical plane of the wind tunnel of figure 2;
  • FIG. 4 shows a detail of the wind tunnel, where a section of a duct of the recirculation circuit is visible ;
  • figure 5 shows the duct of figure 4 in a section relative to a vertical plane, perpendicular to the section plane of figure 4;
  • FIG. 6 schematically shows the wind tunnel according to the invention compared with a currently known recirculating wind tunnel
  • FIG. 7A shows a first embodiment, in which the fan device is at the ground level
  • figure 7B shows a second embodiment, in which the fan device is at the ground level
  • figure 7C shows an embodiment with a further reduction of the total volume of the wind tunnel.
  • Wind tunnel 2 is a wind tunnel with a recirculating air flow. Said wind tunnel 2 is especially adapted to be used to perform simulations of free fall or parachuting.
  • Wind tunnel 2 comprises a first substantially vertical duct 4 comprising, in turn, a flying chamber 42, said flying chamber 42 being adapted to accommodate at least one user who is going to float when hit by an air flow.
  • Wind tunnel 2 further comprises a fan device 5, which is adapted to generate an air flow to be introduced into flying chamber 42; and a recirculation circuit 6.
  • Said recirculation circuit 6 is in fluid communication with said first substantially vertical duct 4 and with said fan device 5.
  • Said recirculation circuit 6 is adapted to define a substantially closed path for the air flow.
  • Wind tunnel 2 is designed in such a way that recirculation circuit 6 comprises, in turn: a plurality of deflectors 64 and a plurality of ducts
  • said recirculation circuit 6 comprises connection portions 62.
  • said connection portions 62 are adapted to connect said recirculation circuit 6 to the first substantially vertical duct 4 and recirculation circuit 6 to fan device 5.
  • Said plurality of deflectors 64 are adapted to properly deflect the air flow coming from a first direction towards a second desired direction.
  • said second direction has an inclination at an angle " .” ranging from 10° to 100° relative to the first direction.
  • Said angle " .” is shown, for example, in figure 3.
  • Said plurality of ducts 7 are adapted to connect said plurality of deflectors 64 and/or said connection portions 62 to one another. In this way, a closed circuit is created, where the air flow circulates from the outlet of the fan device to the inlet of fan device 5 itself, flowing through flying chamber 42.
  • Wind tunnel 2 according to the invention is designed in such a way that each single duct 7 comprised in said recirculation circuit 6 is configured and designed to substantially keep constant the pressure of the air flow flowing inside it, i.e. inside the duct itself.
  • each single duct 7 is designed so as not to generate variations of pressure in the air flow caused according to Bernoulli's principle.
  • each single duct 7 the pressure of the air flow at the inlet of duct 7 itself is substantially equal to the pressure of the air at the outlet of duct 7 itself.
  • the invention leads to economic advantages, since it allows manufacturers to reduce manufacturing costs, as there are no elements especially shaped to reduce and/or increase the pressure of the air flow inside the recirculation circuit, unlike what happens in the prior art.
  • This solution further allows the total dimensions of wind tunnel 2 to be reduced in a significant manner compared to currently known solutions.
  • an area "A”, in particular an inner area of any section of duct 7, is substantially constant along a longitudinal extension "L" of the duct itself.
  • This solution allows for an inner area "A”, which is constant along the entire longitudinal extension "L” of the duct .
  • said area “A” corresponds to the inner area of duct 7 generated by a section that is perpendicular to longitudinal extension "L" of duct 7.
  • each duct 7 has a constant section along longitudinal extension "L" of duct 7.
  • section indicates the inner geometric shape of the channel where the air flow flows. Therefore, the outer shape of duct 7 and/or of connection portions 62 can be different and/or change. On the contrary, the inner shape and/or area of the channel where the air flow flows does not change.
  • said wind tunnel 2 features ducts 7 with a square, rectangular, polygonal, circular or elliptical section.
  • the section can be square, circular and so on and its dimensions can change from duct to duct, the only important thing is that, once chosen, it does not change along the entire longitudinal extension "L" of single duct 7.
  • all ducts 7 can have sections and/or longitudinal extensions that are equal to one another, or they can have sections and/or dimensions that are different from duct to duct, but each single duct 7 is manufactured in such a way that the pressure of the air flow flowing inside it does not change along its longitudinal extension.
  • connection portion 62 is configured and designed to substantially keep constant the pressure of the air flow flowing inside it.
  • connection portions 62 are also manufactured so as not to cause pressure variations according to Bernoulli's principle. Indeed, in this explanatory and non- limiting embodiment, said connection portions 62 do not diverge and/or do not converge, either.
  • connection portion 62 for each connection portion 62, an area "A" of any section of connection portion 62 is substantially constant along a longitudinal extension "L" of connection portion 62.
  • each connection portion 62 has a constant section along a longitudinal extension "L" of connection portion 62.
  • wind tunnel 2 features connection portions 62 with a square, rectangular, polygonal, circular or elliptical section.
  • the section can be square, circular and so on, the only important thing is that, once chosen, it does not change along the entire longitudinal extension "L" of the single connection portion 62.
  • the section of all ducts 7 and of all connection portions 62 comprised in recirculation circuit 6, from the outlet of fan device 5 to the following inlet does not change along the entire longitudinal extension "L" of each single duct 7 and of each single connection portion 62.
  • connection portions 62 and/or said ducts 7 are substantially straight. More preferably, both said connection portions 62 and said ducts 7 are substantially straight.
  • a wind tunnel 2 could also have one single connection portion 62 configured and designed to substantially keep constant the pressure of the air flow flowing inside it, whereas other possible connection portions, because constructive requirements, could have diverging and/or converging portions.
  • the section of connection portions 62 and the section of ducts 7 are equal to on another, at least in pairs of connection portion 62 and duct 7.
  • This solution further reduces both designing and manufacturing costs, thus making it easier for the different parts included in wind tunnel 2 to be produced and assembled. Furthermore, this solution allows them to be more easily disassembled in order to move and/or transfer wind tunnel 2 to another place.
  • the embodiment in which the section of connection portions 62 and the section of ducts 7 are equal to one another allows these components to be exchanged with one another, if necessary, so as to obtain the desired conformation and/or facilitate the assembling thereof.
  • one single fan device 5 is implemented.
  • Wind tunnel 2 in a preferred embodiment, features a recirculation circuit 6 comprising: two connection portions 62 to connect said recirculation circuit 6 to the first substantially vertical duct 4, in particular one to the inlet and one to the outlet of the substantially vertical duct 4, relative to the air flow circulation direction.
  • the same embodiment comprises two connection portions 62 to connect said recirculation circuit 6 to said fan device 5, in particular one to the inlet and one to the outlet of fan device 5, relative to the air flow circulation direction.
  • this embodiment comprises four deflectors 64 adapted to properly change the direction of the air flow in the air flow circulation direction; and two ducts 7 properly interposed between said deflectors 64 and/or said connection portions 62.
  • Wind tunnel 2 is configured and designed to assume the shape of a quadrilateral.
  • connection portions 62 can be integrated in one single body with the element associated with them, for example in one single body with fan device 5 and/or with said substantially vertical duct 4.
  • the deflector elements 64 comprise, in turn, a support structure 65 and a plurality of wings 66 fixed to said support structure 65.
  • Said support structure 65 preferably comprises connection elements adapted to allow deflector element 64 to be connected to other parts included in recirculation circuit 6.
  • said support structure 65 is able to properly channel an air flow towards said wings 66, properly arranged so as to properly deflect the direction of the air flow, and, subsequently, to lead the air flow towards said connection portions 62 and said channels 7.
  • Said support structure can have an elliptical, square, rectangular, circular shape, etc..
  • Wings 66 can have a curvature to improve the deflection of the air flow.
  • a possible embodiment of wings 66 and of the different parts of deflector element 64 is described, for example, in patent application W02017 / 006251 , whose content, concerning the deflector elements, is to be considered as part of this description.
  • said deflector elements 64 are adapted to deflect the air flow by an angle " .” of approximately 90°, as shown for example in the embodiment of figure 3.
  • Other possible conformations of deflector elements 64 are shown, for example, in figures 7B and 7C.
  • flying chamber 42 comprises a first air-permeable wall 43, which is capable of being flown through by an air flow.
  • the first permeable wall 43 can be a grid, a net, a net-like wall, or a perforated wall having holes with any shape and size, depending on the different needs.
  • the first permeable wall 43 is arranged on a plane that is substantially transverse relative to a vertical axis z-z of flying chamber 42.
  • the first permeable wall 43 also acts as a support surface, or as a floor, for a user standing inside flying chamber 42 as well as for objects.
  • the first permeable wall 43 is arranged at the base of the structure of flying chamber 42.
  • a second permeable wall 44 which is arranged in the upper part of flying chamber 42 and is useful to hold the users and/or the objects floating in the air flow, thus preventing them from accidentally hitting other parts of wind tunnel 2. Therefore, the second permeable 44 wall minimizes the danger for users or objects of being pushed by the air flow towards parts of wind tunnel 2, such as for example the recirculation circuit 6, thus preventing them from getting hurt and avoiding faults or jamming of wind tunnel 2.
  • the first permeable wall 43 and the second permeable wall 44 delimit the area of flying chamber 42 where a user can float in a vertical or ascending air flow, thus experiencing a simulation of free fall or parachuting in total safety conditions.
  • flying chamber 42 is at least partly made of a visually transparent material, such as glass, crystal, plastic, polymethylmethacrylate (also known as Plexiglas), etc..
  • the transparent material is convenient as it offers the possibility of seeing through flying chamber 42, for example allowing a group of people standing outside wind tunnel 2 to watch a user who is engaged in a simulation of free fall or parachuting inside wind tunnel 2.
  • an entire part of flying chamber 42 can be made of a transparent material, thus enabling a 360° view from the inside of chamber 42.
  • flying chamber 42 makes up the largest part of the first vertical duct 4.
  • said flying chamber 42 makes up only part of vertical duct 4, since it is preceded and/or followed by a duct portion where an air flow can circulate.
  • the wind tunnel according to the invention advantageously comprises one single fan device 5.
  • Said fan device 5 in a preferred, though non-limiting embodiment, comprises a support structure 51 and a fan 52, which is caused to rotate by means of an actuator system, such as, for example, a motor, preferably an electric motor .
  • an actuator system such as, for example, a motor, preferably an electric motor .
  • Said support structure 51 is at least capable of permitting the rotation of fan 52 and of associating fan device 5 with recirculation circuit 6.
  • said support structure 51 comprises a duct portion which is such as to allow fluid to flow through and be joined to recirculation circuit 6, for example through connection portions 62.
  • said support structure 51 is shaped so as to allow said fan device 5 to be fixed inside a duct 7.
  • fan device 5 - and, in particular, the electric motor controlling fan 52 - can be controlled by a control system; by way of example, the control system is capable of controlling the activation/deactivation of fan device 5 when it is operated accordingly by an operator, who, for example, intervenes by means of a remote control panel.
  • the control system is capable of controlling the operation of fan device 5 depending on the reading of detected parameters.
  • fan device 5 is located in a vertical segment of recirculation circuit 6, for example opposite the first vertical duct 4.
  • said fan device 5 can be associated with connection portions 62 so that it can be joined to the remaining part of recirculation circuit 6, for example to at least one deflector element 64 and/or to a duct 7.
  • said fan 5 can be inserted inside a duct 7.
  • said fan device 5 can also be placed in other parts of wind tunnel 2.
  • said fan device 5 is arranged at a height from the ground that is at most equal to the one at which said flying chamber 42 is arranged.
  • said fan device 5 is located under the height at which said flying chamber 42 is arranged. More in particular, said fan device 5 is placed at the minimum height of wind tunnel 2 according to the invention, so that no lifting devices, such as, for example, a crane, need to be used to correctly place fan device 5 in wind tunnel 2. Preferably, said fan device 5 is placed on ground "G" on which wind tunnel 2 stands .
  • recirculation circuit 6 is designed so that said fan device 5 is arranged at a distance from flying chamber 42 that is such as to make sure that the air flow flowing into flying chamber 42 reduces the turbulent motions generated by fan device 5.
  • the air flow flowing into flying chamber 42 preferably is laminar.
  • a duct 7 can be interposed, for example in addition to connection portions 62, so as to increase the distance between fan device 5 and flying chamber 42, for instance according to figure 7B.
  • the extension of the remaining part of recirculation circuit 6 can be reduced, for example including only one further duct 7 and one or more suitable deflector elements 64, so that wind tunnel 2 can assume the shape of a right-angled parallelepiped or right-angled triangle, for example according to figure 7B. In this way, the total volume of wind tunnel 2 can be kept constant .
  • wind tunnel 2 allows manufacturers to maintain a constant section of ducts 7 and/or of connection portions 62 of recirculation circuit 6 along the entire recirculation path, in particular the straight one, of the air flow from the outlet of fan device 5 to the inlet of fan device 5 itself.
  • FIG. 1 shows wind tunnel 2 according to the invention in a possible explanatory, though non-limiting embodiment.
  • Wind tunnel 2 is designed to be placed on a flat surface, such as, for example, ground “G” .
  • wind tunnel 2 The structure of wind tunnel 2 is compact, so that it can be transferred to the desired place by simply and quickly moving the different parts of wind tunnel 2.
  • Figure 2 shows a possible embodiment of the wind tunnel of figure 1 in a front view, which clearly shows the first vertical duct 4, comprising flying chamber 42, fan device 5 and recirculation circuit 6.
  • a recirculation circuit 6 is provided, which has four deflector elements 64 and two ducts 7, the latter being arranged in the horizontal portions of recirculation circuit 6.
  • connection portions 62 properly integrated in the first vertical duct 4 and in fan device 5.
  • said flying chamber 42 substantially extends along the greatest part of the first vertical duct 4.
  • connection portions 62 is equal to the section of ducts 7. Furthermore, said connection portions 62 and said ducts 7 are substantially straight.
  • Figure 3 shows the section relative to a vertical plane of the wind tunnel of figure 2, wherein some possible manufacturing solutions of the different parts of wind tunnel 2 are visible.
  • the figure shows the first permeable wall 43 and the second permeable wall 44, which define the area of flying chamber 42, relative to the vertical axis z-z, which can be occupied by one or more users.
  • the figure further shows a possible embodiment of deflector elements 64, each one comprising a support structure 65 and a plurality of properly arranged wings 66.
  • said support structures 65 further define a portion to channel the flow towards said wings 66 and direct the air flow towards the other parts of recirculation circuit 6.
  • Figure 3 further shows a possible embodiment of fan device 5, wherein fan 52 is arranged close to an end thereof and, in particular, close to the end of the support structure that is the farthest from flying chamber 42 relative to the air flow circulation direction.
  • Support structure 51 in the embodiment shown, has a section, area and/or transverse size that is greater than the section, area and/or transverse size of ducts 7.
  • the figure further shows how the size relative to a vertical axis z-z is substantially defined by the sum of the dimensions of flying chamber 42 and of two deflector elements 64.
  • the vertical extension is substantially equal to the transverse extension, thus causing wind tunnel 2 to assume a substantially square shape .
  • Figure 4 shows a detail of wind tunnel 2, where a section of a duct 7 of recirculation circuit 6 is visible.
  • duct 7 is designed in such a way that the pressure of the air flow flowing inside duct 7 substantially remains constant, since there are no shape variations that can change the pressure of the air flow, according to Bernoulli's principle.
  • Longitudinal extension "L" of duct 7 is very small, hence load losses due to friction are very small, as well, thus not jeopardizing the overall efficiency of wind tunnel 2.
  • Duct 7 shown in figure 4 is interposed between two deflector elements 64.
  • Figure 5 shows the duct of figure 4 in a section relative to a vertical plane, shown in figure 4. This section plane is perpendicular to the section plane of figure 4.
  • Figure 5 shows how area "A" of the section along longitudinal extension "L" of duct 7 remains constant.
  • the figure shows a duct 7 with a cylindrical shape, whose circular base is visible.
  • Figure 5 further shows, from a front view, wings 66 comprised in deflector element 64, which is connected to duct 7 in the way shown in figure 4.
  • Figure 6 schematically shows wind tunnel 2 according to the invention compared with a currently known recirculating wind tunnel.
  • This figure shows how, given the same dimensions of flying chamber (42, C) , the total dimensions of wind tunnel 2 according to the invention substantially are 1/3 for the vertical extension and 1/3 for the transverse extension.
  • This figure discloses the remarkable advantage resulting from the reduction of the spaces taken up by the solution according to the invention compared to the traditional solution. Furthermore, this solution requires one single fan element 5, whereas the traditional solution, in order to obtain comparable performances, needs the implementation of at least two fan elements "I".
  • Figure 7A shows a first embodiment, wherein fan device 5 is at ground level "G" .
  • This embodiment allows for a further reduction of manufacturing costs, as no lifting devices are needed to lift fan device 5, which is placed on ground “G” .
  • fan device 5 is associated with two connection portions 62; whereas the two ducts 7 are arranged one horizontally and one vertically, respectively, so as to create recirculation circuit 6, properly spaced apart from one another by deflector elements 64.
  • Figure 7B shows a second embodiment, wherein fan device 5 is at the ground level and fan device 5 itself is arranged at a greater distance from flying chamber 42. Downstream of the fan device there is a duct 7, which could be and/or comprise a connection portion 62.
  • recirculation circuit 6 can be designed so as to reduce the total number of elements, thus creating a duct 7, which extends along an inclined direction.
  • proper deflector elements 64 are needed, which are capable of changing the direction of the air flow in a stronger manner compared to the solutions discussed above.
  • said fan device 5 is arranged on the inside of a duct 7.
  • FIG. 7C shows an embodiment with a further reduction of the total volume of the wind tunnel.
  • fan device 5 is arranged in the inclined section of recirculation circuit 6, which can be obtained by means of a fan device 5 incorporated in a duct 7.
  • said fan device 5 could be coupled to one or more connection portions 62.
  • special deflector elements 64 are needed in order to properly deflect the direction of the air flow.
  • Wind tunnel 2 according to the invention is economic, in particular it ensures a low initial economic impact, but adds the enormous fluid-dynamic advantage of recirculating the air flow without adding further costs, which typically arise when manufacturing currently known recirculating wind tunnels.
  • Wind tunnel 2 according to the invention improves fluid-dynamic efficiency, significantly reducing the installed power, with the same performances, i.e. with the same air flow, compared to a non-ducted wind tunnel with a non-recirculating air flow.
  • wind tunnel 2 according to the invention would only require a power of 300 kW.
  • fan device 5 is a machine supplied by generators, there is a reduction in the size of the relative generator, with a consequent cost reduction.
  • wind tunnel 2 according to the invention increases the performances of the wind tunnel compared to a non-ducted wind tunnel with a non-recirculating air flow. Indeed, given the same power, an efficiency increase leads to an improvement of performances.
  • the increase in the performances of the wind tunnel turns into an increase in the speed of the air flow and/or into an increase in the flying section comprised in flying chamber 42.
  • wind tunnel 2 according to the invention is much more appealing for experienced users, who, in one case, can test formations with different users at the same time and, in the other case, can perform acrobatic tricks, which require a higher wind speed.
  • flying chambers with a diameter or width of at least 4 meters ensure speeds of the air flow inside the flying chamber of approximately 190 km/h.
  • the speed that can be reached is approximately 250 km/h.
  • a further advantage of wind tunnel 2 according to the invention which has a constant section along ducts 7 and/or in connection portions 62, lies in the physical properties of Bernoulli's principle.
  • a section variation corresponds to a pressure variation; therefore, the pressure along the different segments of ducts 7 and/or of connection portions 62 comprised in wind tunnel 2 according to the invention remains constant, as there is no pressure variation due to Bernoulli's principle, but there are only variations due to load losses.
  • the loads losses, though, are irrelevant, as the dimensions of ducts 7 and of connection portions 62 are very small, especially compared to those of the ducts present in currently known recirculating wind tunnels.
  • Wind tunnel 2 according to the invention even though both ducts 7 and connection portions 62 have a constant section, is not affected by problems because wind tunnel 2 according to the invention is small-sized, namely the length of recirculation circuit 6 is so small that the load losses are anyway small.
  • wind tunnel 2 is aimed in an opposite direction compared to the solutions suggested by the state of the art, wherein it is common praxis to increase the dimensions of the ducts comprised in the recirculation circuit in order to reduce load losses, thus creating large-sized wind tunnels.
  • Wind tunnel 2 according to the invention allows manufacturers to reduce the total dimensions of wind tunnel 2, though keeping constant the shape of the size of the ducts.
  • wind tunnel 2 ensures anyway a high efficiency. For example, by implementing the wind tunnel in such a way that the speed of the air flow inside flying chamber 42 is at least 160 km/h. This speed is more than enough for occasional users.
  • wind tunnel 2 according to the invention is the only solution that allows manufacturers to join small dimensions, simplicity and aerodynamic efficiency.
  • Wind tunnel 2 according to the invention by using ducts 7 and/or connection portions 62 with a constant section, allows the lengths of ducts 7 to be reduced according to the different needs, without affecting the divergence and/or convergence angles, which, as it is known, directly affect fluid-dynamic efficiencies, thus creating turbulences.
  • ducts 7 according to the invention turn the air flow circulating in recirculation circuit 6 of the wind tunnel 2 according to the invention into a laminar flow.
  • the total dimensions of wind tunnel 2 according to the invention are comparable with those of a currently known non-recirculating wind tunnel and are significantly lower than those of a recirculating wind tunnel manufactured with currently known technologies.

Abstract

La présente invention concerne une soufflerie avec un flux d'air de recirculation pour effectuer des simulations de chute libre ou de parachutage qui comprend : un premier conduit sensiblement vertical (4) comprenant, lui-même, une chambre de vol (42), pour recevoir au moins un utilisateur qui va flotter lorsqu'il rencontre par un flux d'air; un dispositif de ventilateur (5), pour générer un flux d'air, pour être introduit dans la chambre de vol (42); et un circuit de recirculation (6) en communication fluidique avec ledit premier conduit sensiblement vertical (4) et avec ledit dispositif de ventilateur (5). Le circuit de recirculation (6) est adapté pour définir un trajet sensiblement fermé pour le flux d'air. Le circuit de recirculation (6) comprend : une pluralité de déflecteurs (64), pour dévier de manière appropriée le flux d'air provenant d'une première direction vers une deuxième direction souhaitée; et une pluralité de conduits (7), pour raccorder mutuellement ladite pluralité de déflecteurs (64). Chaque conduit individuel (7) compris dans ledit circuit de recirculation (6) est configuré et conçu pour maintenir sensiblement constante la pression du flux d'air s'écoulant à l'intérieur de celui-ci.
PCT/IB2018/058329 2017-10-27 2018-10-25 Soufflerie à recirculation transférable WO2019082115A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT102017000122220 2017-10-27
IT102017000122220A IT201700122220A1 (it) 2017-10-27 2017-10-27 Galleria del vento ricircolante trasferibile.

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WO2019082115A1 true WO2019082115A1 (fr) 2019-05-02

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CN113125102A (zh) * 2021-03-24 2021-07-16 中国空气动力研究与发展中心空天技术研究所 一种椭圆截面米字耙流量计5×8测点等面积分布方法
US11707689B2 (en) 2018-11-16 2023-07-25 Ifly Holdings, Llc Recirculating vertical wind tunnel

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11707689B2 (en) 2018-11-16 2023-07-25 Ifly Holdings, Llc Recirculating vertical wind tunnel
CN113125102A (zh) * 2021-03-24 2021-07-16 中国空气动力研究与发展中心空天技术研究所 一种椭圆截面米字耙流量计5×8测点等面积分布方法

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