iFly San Francisco Bay - inside the "Plenum" of wind tunnel chamber

This is a view of the plenum space underneath the flight chamber. Far above the flight chamber, turbines generate high-velocity airflow, which is redirected via curved baffles into a circulating flow through the flight chamber.
This is more economical & creates a better overall airflow than the type of wind tunnel which uses a propeller underneath. It also allows for better climate control, as it can be warm inside the chamber when cold or rainy outside. Also makes an all-around viewing area possible, whereas in the older versions of windtunnels, only a few windows could be put in among the pads...
From their website:
"iFly SF Bay is a 12-foot diameter vertical wind tunnel capable of airspeeds above 150mph. It is safe enough for children and advanced enough for the competition skydiver.

"iFly's vertical wind tunnel design has a proven track record of safety and reliability, and a growing number of customers in locations throughout the world.

"So, how does it all work? Use the buttons on the diagram above to put things into motion! * Fans: Four 250 horsepower fans recirculate up to 150mph+ of wind, enough for the most radical expert skydiving training. * Turning Vanes: Shaped like curved aircraft wings, the Turning Vanes guide air around corners without introducing excessive drag or turbulence. * Return Air Towers: Air passes Turn 2, slows, and continues downward to the plenum. * Louvers: Large doors in the Return Air Towers allow a measured amount of fresh-air exchange, maintaining a comfortable temperature in the Flight Chamber. * Plenum: After Turn 3, the airflow continues underground toward the center of the structure. * Inlet Contractor: Turn 4 guides the wind to the Inlet Contractor, which narrows in diameter in advance of the Flight Chamber. Airspeed increases from about 30mph to 120mph+, enough for human flight! * Flight Chamber: 12 feet indiameter, lined with a trampoline-like floor made of aircraft cable, surrounded by clear plexi-glass. * Diffuser: Experts can reach heights of about 30 feet above the net. Turn 1 guides the air back outward toward the fans.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• wind tunnel
• plenum
• ufly seattle
• seattle indoor skydiving
• ifly sfbay
• recirculating