Altitude icing wind tunnel

The NRC altitude icing wind tunnel is used to simulate in-flight atmospheric icing conditions. The tunnel's comparatively small test section, combined with its relatively high speed capabilities (up to Mach 0.6 with insert), make it particularly suitable and efficient for the testing of instrumentation and viewing of the microphysical processes of ice accretion.

In addition, its ability to simulate flight at altitudes as high as 30,000 ft makes this facility a unique icing wind tunnel. Test results from the facility have been accepted by certification authorities such as Transport Canada, the US FAA and EASA. The recent addition of a controlled hot air supply enables clients to assess hot air de-/anti-icing systems.

The facility supports research organizations and commercial clients with:

• Development, testing or calibration of aircraft or cloud physics instrumentation;
• Development and testing of de- and anti-icing systems;
• Evaluation of ice accretion on non-protected aircraft components;
• Validation of numerical ice accretion codes; and
• Studies on basic physical processes leading to ice accretion.

Our world-leading experts provide skilled and experienced professional and technical support in all aspects of icing wind tunnel testing including test design, model design and fabrication, instrumentation, test management, through to report preparation. Our expertise also encompasses icing tunnel testing techniques, customized data processing and computational fluid dynamics simulations.

We work closely with our Design and Fabrication Services facility, which supports fabrication of most wood, sheet metal and fiberglass models, and provides model modification services.

Digital video and thermography are available to record experiments. Several electric power sources, as well as heated compressed air, can be supplied to support experiments.

Technical specifications

Standard working section:

• Size: 57 cm high x 57 cm wide x 183 cm long (22.5 in x 22.5 in x 6 ft)
• Air velocity: 5 to 100 m/s (Mach 0.015 to 0.3)

Reduced working section 1 (with insert):

• Size: 30 cm high x 57 cm wide x 60 cm long (12 in x 22.5 in x 2 ft)
• Air velocity: 8 to 165 m/s (Mach 0.025 to 0.5)

Reduced working section 2 (with insert):

• Size: 24 cm high x 57 cm wide x 60 cm long (10 in x 22.5 in x 2 ft)
• Air velocity: 10 to 188 m/s (Mach 0.03 to 0.6)

Environmental conditions:

• Static air temperature (at max. velocity): -35°C to +40°C (-31°F to 104°F)
• Liquid water content (at max. velocity): 0.1 to 2.5 g/m3 (0.1 to 3.5 g/m3 with insert)
• Droplet median volume diameter: 8 to 120 micrometers
• Altitude simulation: ground to 30,000 ft

Auxiliary Services:

• AC power:
• 105 to 125 V, 1 Phase, 400 Hz; 1000 VA
• 575 V, 3 Phase, 60 Hz; 30 A
• 220 V, 1 Phase, 60 Hz; 20 A
• 110 V, 1 Phase, 60 Hz; 20 A

• DC power:
• 15 to 36 V; 100 A
• 0 to 40 V; 30 A
• 28 V; 8 A

• Heated Compressed air: Up to 115 g/s (200 SCFM) at 800 kPa (115 psig) and 350°C (575ºF)

Data system and instrumentation:

• Software: test specific LabView
• Model mounts: custom mounting to test section panels
• Pressure measurements: Scanivalve RAD/ZOC system
• Temperature measurements: Thermocouples or RTDs
• Photography: 2 channels of digital HD video to DVD; dSLR; IR camera