Topic - Short Description
During operation of the climate wind tunnel, the facility must be cooled down to the required operating temperature before testing can begin. The energy demand of this cooling phase is governed by the interaction between heat exchanger performance, heat transfer processes within the wind tunnel, and the heat added by the fan power to the system.
The objective of this bachelor’s thesis is to develop and validate a thermodynamic model describing the cooling phase of the climate wind tunnel. Particular emphasis shall be placed on investigating the influence of wind speed on the energetic efficiency of the cooling process. Higher wind speeds improve convective heat transfer between the air, wind tunnel structure, and heat exchanger, but at the same time lead to disproportionately increasing heat input due to higher fan power. These opposing effects shall be analyzed and assessed with respect to their impact on the overall energy demand.
Key questions include which heat flows determine the cooling process, how strongly wind speed affects heat transfer within the system, under which operating conditions the cooling is limited by the heat exchanger or by heat transfer, which wind speed minimizes the total energy demand for reaching a defined target temperature, and how energetic optimization relates to the wind tunnel’s cool-down duration.
Detailed Description of the Tasks
The main activities include:
- Familiarization with the thermodynamic and fluid-mechanical fundamentals of the climate wind tunnel
- Analysis of existing operating and measurement data
- Development of a thermal energy balance for the overall system
- Investigation of heat transfer mechanisms between air, wind tunnel structure, and heat exchanger
- Development of a calculation or simulation model to describe the cooling phase
- Identification of energetically optimal operating parameters
- Assessment of the trade-off between energy demand and cool-down duration
The work is intended to be carried out in cooperation with the RTA team and summarized in a bachelor’s thesis.
Requirements
- Currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, energy engineering, mechatronics, physics, or a related field
- Basic knowledge of thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics
- Interest in experimental research and the analysis of measurement data
- Knowledge of MATLAB, Python, or similar simulation and analysis tools is a plus
- Ability to work independently and in a structured manner
- Team player with an interest in technology
This position offers the opportunity to contribute to a research infrastructure in the field of aviation icing that is unique in Europe and to make a direct contribution to the energy-efficient optimization of wind tunnel operations.
You are open-minded, sociable, and enjoy working collaboratively on projects as part of a team. You are distinguished by your confident demeanor, flexibility, sense of responsibility, and willingness to identify with RTA’s corporate goals and principles.
You can expect an excellent corporate culture and the opportunity to grow both professionally and personally within a modern company.
