The experimental environment in the low speed wind tunnel of the Universität der Bundeswehr München (UniBwM) was optimized to perform basic 2D blade profile tests in an open test section. The major changes and developments are the optimization of the streamwise static pressure gradient in the test section, the adaptation of existing profile models with the use of end plates as well as the design and use of a wake rake. Additionally, surface oil flow and infrared visualization techniques were utilized to visualize the surface flow on the models and to validate the general flow characteristics on the profiles. The whole process to determine a profile polar now takes less than 1h including model exchange. The test results for two reference laminar profiles were validated against results in a large wind tunnel and XFOIL. The results show a very good coincidence in lift and lift gradient over a large angle of attack range after appropriate wind tunnel interference corrections have been applied to the measured data. The UniBwM wind tunnel will be used in the future for the pre-development of stall-optimized wind turbine rotor blade profiles with different leading edge modifications and devices.     «

The experimental environment in the low speed wind tunnel of the Universität der Bundeswehr München (UniBwM) was optimized to perform basic 2D blade profile tests in an open test section. The major changes and developments are the optimization of the streamwise static pressure gradient in the test section, the adaptation of existing profile models with the use of end plates as well as the design and use of a wake rake. Additionally, surface oil flow and infrared visualization techniques were uti...     »