Measurement

In-situ testing of wind turbine blade deflection

Measurement

STARCS personnel has a long experience in measurement technique dating back to the FFA time. Thanks to this, STARCS is an established provider of services in a wide variety of areas.
 
 

In-Situ Measurement

STARCS has a long experience in instrumentation of existing full-size objects. The range of applications is almost unlimited.
 
Applications
  • In-flight aircraft testing
  • Wind turbine icing
  • Wind turbine blade deflection 
  • Nuclear power plants 

Track Record (examples)
2001 Suorva Wind Turbine.
1999 - 00 Skega Malmkvarn ore mill.
1989 - 92 Alsvik Wind Turbine Farm.
1974 - 84 Pressurization tests of nuclear reactor containment vessel in Olkiluoto, Finland (TVO1 & 2) and Oskarshamn, Sweden (O2 & 3).
1979 Kalkugnen Experimental Wind Turbine.

Wind turbine blade deflection study in Suorva.

Wind turbine blade deflection study in Suorva.
 
 

Calibration

STARCS provide calibration of a number of different devices related to experimental activities. Much of the commitments are related to customer support of strain gauge balances that we also design.
 
Applications
  • Pressure sensors
  • Bridge amplifier
  • Wind tunnel balances

Track Record
  • Volvo Trucks
  • Volvo Car Corporation
  • Scania
  • Kawasaki Heavy Industries
  • KTH, Royal Institute of Technology
  • Chalmers University of Technology 

Balance calilbration at STARCS.

STARCS provide calibration services of strain gauge balances in several different rigs in load ranges from a few N to 50 kN.

Data Acquisition and Processing

Wind tunnel tests are made to get reliable data for use in developing aircrafts, missiles and other objects that benefit from similar tests. The measured quantities from the models and wind tunnel instrumentation must be processed to obtain the qualitative engineering information.
 
STARCS generally uses three different acquisition systems; IDA, Zephyr and ESP, each adapted for different testing conditions. However, customization for specific need is frequent and can be offered for most kinds of testing.
 
All of the acquisition systems can stream data continuously to disc which makes it possible to have very long acquisition times. Hours long acquisition times is sometimes used in the compressor test facility. All of the acquisition systems can also present evaluated engineering data online. This is for example used to automatically control the corrected mass flow in real time during a wind tunnel intake test and it is used to monitor the test object in the compressor test facility including triggering alarm actions in case of test object failure.
 
The acquisition systems hardware can simply be expanded if needed. The software is very flexible and can easily be adopted to new needs.

In STARCS KPR Unsteady signals up to 100 kHz can be measured simultaneously and continuously.

In STARCS compressor test facility unsteady signals up to 100 kHz can be measured simultaneously and continuously.
Capabilities
  • STARCS has state of the art data acquisition equipment which is tuned for use in our experimental facilities.
  • Reduced data is presented in real time for most types of test.
  • Finally reduced data is supplied to our customers within minutes after each test sequence in a format agreed to by the customer.
  • The software we use is developed in-house by our experienced engineers by using high level products like LabView and MATLAB.
  • On-the-fly software changes at short notice can be made for customers when the circumstances change.

Technical Specification
  • Data Acquisition
    • The IDA system: Up to 150 channels of slow data such as pressures and temperatures.
    • The Zephyr system: Up to 144 channels at speeds up to 100 kHz data points per second and channel.
    • The ESP system: Two times 8 Electronically Scanned Pressure Modules, from PSI, each with up to 64 pressure ports recording at up to 200 data points per second.
  • Data Processing
    • Standard data items used in aerodynamic research and wind tunnel testing can be provided.
    • Customer defined data items are available upon request any time before, during or even after a test.

 

 
STARCS adapts to the needs of the customer. Focus is on solving the problem rather than the task. Please, fill in the form below and we will contact you for further discussion to find a solution to your particular problem.

 

 
 

Related topics

Inlet Aerodynamics

STARCS has a unique capacity of high flow rate air suction which can be used for simulation of air inlet specific phenomena.
 
 

Store Release Simulation

An additional highly agile motorized arm attached to the ordinary model sting pod, allow for sophisticated store release simulation.
 
 

T1500 - Transonic Wind Tunnel

T1500 is suited for transonic testing of air- and spacecraft at speeds up to Mach 1.7.
 
 
LT1 - Low Speed Wind Tunnel
STARCS low speed wind tunnel is a multipurpose aerodynamic wind tunnel, capable of testing not only all sorts of aircraft models but also almost any type of transportation, large buildings and wind turbines.