Distributed hot-film anemometry can revolutionize ground-based aerodynamic testing for wind tunnels and air-breathing engines. Instead of sensor rakes or traverses to probe the flow, thousands of velocity measurements will be acquired simultaneously from a single optical fiber. This capability can be used in wind tunnel calibration to document boundary layer profiles, uniformity of the tunnel flow, measurements of flow fore and aft of a model, and identify areas of unsteady or separated flow. For engine testing applications, radial and circumferential distributed anemometer sensors will fully document the engine inlet flow and distortion entering the fan and compressor. Further adaptation of the technique can allow for flow measurements in the hot section of engines. The high-resolution velocity and temperature profile data can be used to validate CFD models and optimize future vehicle designs for maximum efficiency.
Luna?s high-resolution flow velocity measurements will provide unprecedented data to better understand flow fields being ingested by turbofan jet engines. This will allow for optimization of inlet geometry, fan blade design, and serpentine ductwork flow profiles. The end result will be more efficient engines with reduced specific fuel consumption (SFC) that weigh less than current state-of-the-art engines. There is significant interest in understanding the flow and temperature profiles in the cold and hot sections of turbine engines, and this technology will provide visualization of this critical data.
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