Abstract
A Prandtl probe is one of the standard instruments used for flow characterization in wind tunnel facilities. The convectional fabrication method of this instrument requires skilled artisanship, precision drilling, lathing and soldering of its several parts. This reflects into high costs of production in turn making wind energy studies expensive. With the adoption of additive manufacturing, the tooling costs, skills required and design to manufacture constraints can be addressed. This research presents a Prandtl probe that was designed using NX™ software, fabricated by desktop stereolithography additive manufacturing platform and validated in a wind tunnel for velocity range of 0 m/s to 51 m/s. This research attested the option of fabricating relatively cheap functional Prandtl probe with desktop stereolithography technology which can be used for accurate determination of flow quality in wind tunnels experiments. This provides various learning and research institution in developing countries that have already invested in additive desktop manufacturing technology certainty and a cheaper option to fabricate wind research instruments for use at their laboratories. Moreover, fabrication and validation of a 5-hole Prandtl probe can also be examined.
Highlights
Research in aerodynamics has grown into other fields such as architectural, sports, environmental pollution and automotive creating the need for low speed wind tunnel (LSWT) tests rather than convectional large wind tunnels for research and design [24], [25].The test section of the most of these LSWT bought by many learning institutions in developing countries, are very small unable to fit the scaled models fabricated for research analysis
PRANDTL PROBE (PP) 1 and PP 2 probe were calibrated using this rig against a standard metallic Prandtl probe (SP) probe as reference instrument
A wind tunnel jet of range 0 to 51 m/s was used for the experimental investigation
Summary
Research into renewable energy(RE) sources especially wind energy has rose over the last decade as a way to fulfil the ever increase in energy needs and countries devotion to reduce greenhouse gas emission globally [1]. The layoffs seen during the conception of 3D printing has allowed all these three pillars and other futile applications to materialize With all these advancement, the desktop 3D printer field is shifting from hobbyists fields to professional environments such as learning institutions and factories [15]–[18]. The desktop technology platforms are relatively cheap as they offer the opportunity to fabricate products at a fraction cost and footprint compared to industrial 3D printers [19] This technology platform has the capability to manufacture intricate shaped structures with less waste, development and production time than conventional manufacturing technologies [20]. The goal of this study is to investigate the capability of additive manufacturing desktop technologies, in particular desktop stereolithography(D_STL), to fabricate a functional Prandtl probe
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