WAFFLE

Wind Analysis for Free Flight Low Reynolds Education

Conventional wind tunnels consist of an inlet, which decreases area and accelerates flow into the test section, before expanding again into the diffuser. However, removing the enclosed test section and instead accelerating air into an open area opens up a host of opportunities for aerial and ground based testing. The mission for my senior project was to create one of these devices as an educational tool for future use in the CU Aerospace Department.

Our solution includes fan modules of 3x3 120mm fans. These modules are arranged 4 wide and 3 tall  for a total wind wall area of 1.44x1.08m. Each one of these modules can have their speed set independently to create spatial gradients from bottom to top or left to right. The entire 108 fan array is mounted to a wheeled cart, allowing it to be transported around the building for a variety of tests and demonstartions. The only operational requirement is the presence of 3 independent electrical circuits in the room to provide the 4400W required to power the wall. 

My team of 14 was composed of a mechanical, electrical, and software teams. Our project manager kept track of our team members and interactions with the department. As the Systems Engineer, I managed the interaction between sub-teams and guaranteed we satisfied the project requirements. Upon completion of the school year I will detail my full involvement in this project, but for now I have included all of our deliverables below to show our work throughout the year.