Preliminary Design of a Heater for Mach 6 Wind Tunnel Operation
Location
Havener Center, Miner Lounge / Wiese Atrium, 1:30pm-3:30pm
Start Date
4-1-2026 1:30 PM
End Date
4-1-2026 3:30 PM
Presentation Date
April 1, 2026; 1:30pm-3:30pm
Description
Achieving Mach 6 flow conditions in a wind tunnel requires sufficient air heating to prevent liquefaction during expansion through the nozzle, presenting significant design and operational challenges. This work examines the preliminary design considerations for a high-temperature air heater suitable for integration within Missouri S&T’s developing hypersonic wind tunnel facility. The study evaluates required total temperature levels, energy input demands, and material constraints associated with sustained high-temperature operation. A survey of existing heater technologies used in hypersonic facilities is conducted to identify viable design approaches and inform system-level tradeoffs. Scaling analyses are performed to estimate performance requirements and assess feasibility within facility constraints. Based on these findings, preliminary heater concepts are developed and compared with respect to efficiency, durability, and integration potential. This work establishes foundational design guidelines and identifies key challenges to be addressed in future detailed heater development efforts.
Biography
Connor Jordon is an aerospace engineering student at the Missouri University of Science and Technology with a focus on high-speed flow and experimental development. His current research involves the preliminary design of a regenerative storage heater for hypersonic wind tunnel operation, aimed at enabling high-temperature testing without extreme power requirements. His work has included material analysis, runtime estimation, thermal profiling, and large-scale system design using MATLAB and CAD tools. Connor is particularly interested in high-speed research and development, as well as the experimental methods used to characterize these environments. He plans to pursue a master’s degree in aerospace engineering while continuing research with the Aerodynamic Research Laboratory.
Meeting Name
2026 - Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference
Department(s)
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Document Type
Poster
Document Version
Final Version
File Type
event
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2026 The Authors, All rights reserved
Preliminary Design of a Heater for Mach 6 Wind Tunnel Operation
Havener Center, Miner Lounge / Wiese Atrium, 1:30pm-3:30pm
Achieving Mach 6 flow conditions in a wind tunnel requires sufficient air heating to prevent liquefaction during expansion through the nozzle, presenting significant design and operational challenges. This work examines the preliminary design considerations for a high-temperature air heater suitable for integration within Missouri S&T’s developing hypersonic wind tunnel facility. The study evaluates required total temperature levels, energy input demands, and material constraints associated with sustained high-temperature operation. A survey of existing heater technologies used in hypersonic facilities is conducted to identify viable design approaches and inform system-level tradeoffs. Scaling analyses are performed to estimate performance requirements and assess feasibility within facility constraints. Based on these findings, preliminary heater concepts are developed and compared with respect to efficiency, durability, and integration potential. This work establishes foundational design guidelines and identifies key challenges to be addressed in future detailed heater development efforts.
Comments
Advisor: Davide Vigano, dvigano@mst.edu