Spanish wind turbine manufacturer Gamesa has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Technical University of Madrid (UPM) for the development of a high-performance aerodynamic testing tunnel in Madrid.
Under the MoU the company and the university will jointly design, develop and operate the testing tunnel which will be around 70m long and 50m wide.
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Gamesa product development manager Antonio de la Torre said that the tunnel would allow the company to perform advanced full-rotor (three blades and hub) aerodynamic noise measurements, dynamic tests and simulations.
Previously, the company had to depend on university labs outside Spain to perform these tests.
The tunnel is expected to commence operations during the last quarter of 2016.
Torre said: "Until now, we had to resort to university labs outside Spain to perform these tests.
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By GlobalData"Once this facility is operative, we will be able to run these tests in Spain, which is where our [research and development] effort is based, underpinned by a staff of over 500 engineers."
UPM Dean Carlos Conde said: "This aerodynamic tunnel will be cutting-edge by any measure: there is no other facility in Europe in which all of these tests can be performed in combination, offering applications not only for wind power but also for the railroad and civil engineering industries.
"UPM is, without a doubt, the university institution best placed to carry out this initiative due to the numerous groups of researchers that have worked on advanced fluid mechanics and aerodynamics in recent decades."
The tunnel will be managed by a trust comprising representatives from UPM and Gamesa.
