TAD-1 Wind Tunnel

TAD-1 is an atmospheric low speed closed return type wind tunnel with 10.5 meters long square 4 by 4 meters slotted wall test section and slot-to wall ratio of approximately 12%. This will permit to obtain valid data while testing high-lift airplane configurations (VTOL and STOL), including high post-stall angles-of-attack and ground effect. Unfortunately, the commissioning of electric equipment has not been finished. Check-up and free rotation of main drive electric motors was performed without creation of flow velocity in the wind tunnel. The main drive includes two double-stage BOD-50 fans each rotated by 2,500 kW DC electric motors. Precalculated air velocity in the test section is 72 m/sec (160 mph). TAD-1 is also suitable for testing full-scale passenger cars and large-scale models of lorries, trailers, locomotives, trains, etc.
The conceptual design has been developed to construct additional vertical test section of a circular shape of 4.5 meters diameter with assessed free stream velocity up to 60 m/sec. This test section could be used for parachutist training, airplane spin investigation, helicopter rotors testing at vertical climb and descent, paraborne systems investigation, etc. The project makes provision for use of both test sections by turns.

Current state

At the moment all the elements in the wind channel are mounted including fans with the stator blades control system, both 21 meters long fan shafts with intermediate bearings, turn blades in all four turn knees of the return channel, honeycomb, deturbulizing screen, slotted walls of the test section. In the apparatus building the electric equipment of the main drive motors and rotation speed control equipment are mounted, auxiliary systems for main motors cooling, and recuperation brake circuits are installed, as well as their controls and monitoring devices.
To obtain flow it is necessary to finish assemblage of bearing lubrication system pipelines and some auxiliary electric systems, to perform commissioning, and to renew wind tunnel painting.