Technical

The IRWT is one of the few icing wind tunnels in the world which can produce ice crystals as well as super cooled liquid water droplets to simulate a wide spectrum of icing conditions in static air temperatures down to below -30c. Simulated snow and rain conditions are also available.

[photo] - GAS site at London Luton Airport

The tunnel is equipped with the latest test and measuring systems including a particle sizing system, which allows rapid and accurate determination of droplet size, which speed up the work rate of the tunnel. The tunnel also has comprehensive data recording and control systems and visual recording facilities.

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Specifications:

  • Maximum air mass flow of more than 47kg/sec
  • Large standard working section (508 x 762 x 1670mm) at Mach 0.32
  • Small standard working section (178 x 305 x 1000mm) at Mach 0.62
  • Can incorporate non standard working section sizes
  • Liquid water concentrations up to 5g/m3 in small section, 3g/m3 in large section
  • Solid ice particle capability and mixed phase conditions
  • Continuous measurement laser diffraction droplet/particle size analysis
  • Auxiliary fan capability of more than 6kg/sec
  • Static air temperatures below minus 30 degrees C

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