Abstract
Large aeronautical ground test facilities, particularly continuous flow wind tunnels and engine altitude test cells, are large users of electricity. Because of the correspondingly high absolute cost of energy, these facilities generally maintain continual programs to minimize both energy and power levels consistent with achievement of testing objectives. The recent sharp increases in kilowatt-hour costs (overall rates doubled within two years at the U. S. Air Force's Arnold Engineering Development Center, for example) have resulted in a proportional rise in efforts to effect further economies. The various methods available to reduce electricity costs fall in three categories: (1) methods related to discipline in the operation, (2) improvement of test facility aerodynamic efficiency, and (3) productivity improvements resulting from modernization and new developments in data acquisition, reduction and analysis systems and in testing techniques. Category (1) - operational discipline - is naturally very cost effective, but also is limited in gain potential. It is shown that Category (3) - modernization and new developments - effects large and very cost-effective improvements in productivity; some recent examples are presented.
Recommended Citation
Hensel, R. W., "Energy Conservation in Aeronautical Ground Testing" (1976). UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy. 150, pp. 391-403.
https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/umr-mec/150
Meeting Name
3rd Annual UMR-MEC Conference on Energy (1976: Oct. 12-14, Rolla, MO)
Document Type
Article - Conference proceedings
Session
Energy Management III
Document Version
Final Version
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 1977 University of Missouri--Rolla, All rights reserved.
Publication Date
13 Oct 1976
