Small consumed supersonic aerodynamic unit AR-3

Characteristics

Working channel dimensions: diameter – 16 mm, length 80-300 mm.

Range of velocities (Mach number) on the nozzle section: 2

Reynolds Number on the line l=100mm: from 100000 to 1000000

Air temperature in the forechamber: 285-340K

Duration, min: continuous

Description. Aerodynamic unit AR-3 is used for experimental research of heat and mass exchange in the boundary layer of models flown over by supersonic gas flow (air, argon, helium, etc). The main part of the unit is axial-symmetric supersonic nozzle with a working part which is cylindrical tube(diameter – 16 mm; length 80-300 mm). Low consume make it possible to use inert gases (argon, helium, etc) as a working medium. Models in question look like cylindrical bodies fixed coaxially in a supersonic nozzle.

Unit parameters. Unit AR-3 is a supersonic aerodynamic tube with continuous performance and axial-symmetric working part. Air is supplied either from gasholder battery or from high-pressure main, or from balloons with compressed inert gas. The maximum flow rate through the unit is about 1 kg/s. Mach number on the nozzle section M=2. Reynolds Number on the line l=100mm are within the range 100000-1000000. Electric heater makes forechamber temperature vary from 285 to 340K.
Equipment. Unit AR-3 is equipped with gas-injection system into the boundary layer. Air is supplied from high-pressure main (15MPa) or from balloons with compressed gas. Injection system makes it possible to inject air or other gases with wide-range regulated temperate from 170 to 370K.
The unit AR-3 is equipped with an infrared window KCl, a thermal image camera ThermaCAM SC3000, an ADC National Instruments SC-2345, absolute pressure sensors IKD, software was designed with in the application package Labiew 7.0, Intel Pentium IV computer.

Working part of “AR-3” with an infra-red window

View of the working part of small flow rate supersonic aerodynamic unit “AR-3”