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• September 20, 2016 Create Date
• September 20, 2016 Last Updated

Compressors for High Speed Wind Tunnels

This study is concerned with the compres-
sor drive systems for highspeed wind tunnels
of the continuous type. It contains information
regarding the aerodynamic characteristics
of wind tunnel circuits from which the com-
pressor requirements can be established,
presents a method to guide in the selection
of the compressor type, and discusses com-
pressor drives utilizing various types of
prime movers. It outlines some of the
aerodynamic and mechanical considerations
underlying the design and operation of wind
tunnel drives including a discussion of vi-
brational problems encountered in systems
of this type.

The role played by the wind tunnel as a
tool in research and development has always
been an important one. However, the advent
of high-speed flight has greatly increased
the need for wind tunnel facilities with the
result that numerous tunnels encompassing
various ranges of Mach numbers and test
section sizes have been built in recent
years. Because the appearance and char-
acteristics of a wind tunnel depend to agreat
extent on its purpose, on the complexion and
location of the laboratory for which it is
built, and on other factors, it is not surpris-
ing that there are today many types of tunnels
utilizing various means of motive power and
showing various degrees of complexity in
the details of the flow passages, in the
instrumentation, and in the equipment used
for the reduction data.

As a result of this large variety, some
of the information regarding the basic char-
acteristics of the various components of
wind tunnels is not readily available in the
literature. To fill this need AGARD is
presenting a series of studies containing a
systematic compilation of information re-
garding the design and operation of various
types of wind tunnels and their components.

This AGARDograph, one of the series on
wind tunnels, deals with the compressor sys-
tem of wind tunnels designed for continuous
operation. It contains information regarding
the aerodynamic characteristics of the tunnel
circuit insofar as they affect the compressor
system, presents a method for the selection
of the type of compressor most suitable for
a given installation, and includes a survey
of the various types of prime movers that
are usually given consideration as compres-
sor drives.