The circulating water tunnel is the first test tank at the Marine Technology Centre where the use of optical flow measurement systems (like PIV or LDV) was considered right from the planning phase. Hence, the tank comprises an entirely transparent, rectangular test section that can be observed from downstream as well. It was manufactured by Engineering Laboratory Design US  and installed in the spring of 2010. For technical inquiries contact Jan Visscher or Professor Bjørnar Pettersen.

The lab is operated by the Department of Marine Technology in co-operation with SINTEF Ocean. It is being used for fluid flow demonstrations, as a student laboratory and in PhD research projects. Special attention is paid to projects integrating EFD and CFD. For teaching purposes, there is a flow visualization kit installed and several student workplaces are prepared.

Specifications:

•  All over size (L x W x H): 9.10 x 3.00 x 2.10 m
•  Test section size: 2.50 x 0.61 x 0.61 m
•  Low turbulence level of 1% of free stream velocity
•  Velocity profile outside boundary layers +/- 1% of mean velocity
•  Flow speed from 0.03 to 1 m/s
•  Operation with free surface or closed lid.
•  The ambient pressure can't be lowered – it is not a cavitation tunnel

Photo: Dye visualization of the Vortex Street behind a circular cylinder.