Pressurized temperature-variable water tunnel for high Reynolds number research

The objective of this study is to determine the possibility of using a pressurized water tunnel with variable fluid-temperature to achieve high Reynolds numbers for hydrodynamics and aerodynamic testing. Characteristics of such a modified water tunnel are investigated and compared to those of low speed wind tunnels at normal conditions. Major advantages offered by these new concept as the tunnel dimensions, power requirements, observation times for unsteady flow phenomena led to a design of a cost effective pressurized variable-temperature water tunnel concept, that has been realized as small pilot water tunnel.