SAM #PANRSA26P0000033772

U.S. Army Solicitation for Closed-Circuit Wind Tunnel with LDV Compatibility

The U.S. Army is seeking to procure a highly specialized closed-circuit wind tunnel for the Army Primary Standards Laboratory at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. - Government Buyer: - U.S. Army Contracting Command-Redstone Arsenal (W6QK ACC-RSA) - U.S. Army Test, Measurement and Diagnostic Equipment Activity (USATA) - Army Primary Standards Laboratory - OEMs and Vendors: - No specific OEMs or vendors are named in the solicitation or attachments - Products/Services Requested: - One closed-circuit wind tunnel - Must support Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV) system compatibility - Maximum operating speed of approximately 50 meters per second - Test section size: 101.6 mm x 101.6 mm (4 in x 4 in) - Test section with optical-quality glass sidewalls - At least two sealable ports for instrument insertion (various diameters) - 3/8-inch Swagelok bulkhead fitting for seed particle introduction - Centrifugal fan isolated to minimize vibration - Variable-frequency drive (VFD) for fan, programmable via National Instruments’ LabVIEW software - No reliance on internet or wireless connections for control - Test section walls must have grooves for nozzle restriction plates - Quantitative analysis (e.g., CFD simulations) required to demonstrate compliance with air speed and turbulence specifications - Unique or Notable Requirements: - Emphasis on precise air velocity measurement and turbulence control - Integration with LDV system and LabVIEW-based control - Delivery to a secure federal facility (Army Primary Standards Laboratory at Redstone Arsenal) - No OEMs specified, allowing for competition among qualified manufacturers

Description

Purchase Description  Procurement of Closed-Circuit Wind Tunnel

Requirements:    • This wind tunnel must be a closed circuit, as the operation of an LDV system  requires seed particles to be added to the air stream – in this case, a substance  called Bis(2-ethylhexyl) subacute. The wind tunnel thus needs to be fitted with a  3/8-inch Swagelok bulkhead fitting placed upstream of the test and transitional  sections.  • This wind tunnel must have a maximum operating speed of approximately 50  meters per second (~9900 feet per minute). The test section walls must have 6.85  millimeter (0.27-inch)-thick grooves placed at approximately 75 percent of the total  length of the test section as measured from the entrance in which specialized  nozzle restriction plates can be affixed to adjust the operating range and achieve  an air speed of 0.15 meters per second (~30 feet per minute). The typical  turbulence intensity across this operating range must be less than 1 percent, where  turbulence intensity is defined as the root-mean-square of velocity fluctuations  divided by the average test section velocity.  • This wind tunnel must have a test section size of 101.6 millimeters by 101.6  millimeters (~4 inches by 4 inches). Test section length can vary if the design  meets the following requirements: The test section must have at least two sealable  ports or fittings for the insertion of instruments of various sizes, such as Pitot-static  tubes and hotwire anemometers. These ports or fittings must accommodate the  following instrument diameters: 4.3 mm (~0.188 in); 6.3 mm (0.25 in); 7.9 mm  (0.313 in); 9.5 mm (0.375 in); 10.1 mm (0.4 in); 12.7 mm (0.5 in); 15.9 mm (0.625  in). One port must be located 49.5 mm (1.95 in) from the inlet, centered into the  test section; the other port should be offset from this port by 37.5 mm (1.47 in).  Additionally, the test section sidewalls must be made of optical-quality glass to  minimize interference with laser propagation. The argon-ion continuous-wave laser  used in this application has a max wavelength of 532 nanometers and 500  milliwatts output power.  • The wind tunnel must have a centrifugal fan design. The fan should be isolated  from the rest of the tunnel system to minimize vibration. The fan must be controlled  by a variable-frequency drive (VFD) connected to a motor of appropriate size and  power to meet the air speed requirements listed above. The VFD must be  implemented such that an operator could use computer software or manual input to  control the drive and automate its function. The computer-VFD interface must not  rely on internet or wireless connections, such as Bluetooth or WiFi. This interface  must be programmable via National Instruments’ LabVIEW software.  • Any design submitted must be shown to meet the specific air speed and  turbulence requirements listed above through a quantitative analysis, such as by  computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations or other appropriate methods.  

1.0 Delivery Requirements  Shipping Address: U.S. Army TMDE Activity, Attn: Michael Tyler, Building 5435,  Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898 

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