Johnson Matthey Emissions Test Facility

Johnson Matthey Plc (JM) contracted Aiolos to design and supply a vehicle emissions test facility at its new European Technology Centre located in Royston, UK. Two emissions laboratories are included: one for SULEV CVS analysis at ambient temperature; the other for legislative emissions testing at -7°C, cold start emissions testing at temperatures down to -20°C, and mileage accumulation at ambient temperature. Multi-vehicle thermal soak areas, for each of the standard testing temperatures, are strategically located adjacent to the labs.  All facility equipment, instrumentation and climatic control are integrated into a complete system. The project included an in-depth concept development phase in which Aiolos worked closely with JM staff to rationalize requirements in order to arrive at a comprehensive facility definition. The laboratory complex has been fully operational since 2003.

GIE S2A Aeroacoustic Wind Tunnel Complex

This wind tunnel complex was funded by a unique consortium of Peugeot Citroën, Renault Cars and the Centre National des Arts et Métiers (CNAM), formed to establish a center of excellence in automotive development in order to maintain the French auto industry’s strong position in the European market. Aiolos was the prime contractor for the flagship facilities in this complex including the building, consisting of a 24 m² wind tunnel for aerodynamic and aero-acoustic testing of full scale cars and another one for aerodynamic testing of 2/5 scale model cars. The GIE project was completed on time in 2003, due in no small part to its partner for construction, Spie Batignolles of France.

HMC Snow/Rain CWT

The Hyundai Motor Company has a major R&D center in Namyang Korea with many aerodynamic and climatic test facilities. Aiolos constructed, on a turnkey basis, a 5.6 m² climatic wind tunnel facility which has the capability to simulate hazardous snow and rain driving conditions, as well as falling snow, under varying temperature conditions. This project, designated HSCWT, was completed in 2003 under very aggressive budget and time constraints. The Aiolos Korea staff had major procurement and site management responsibility and serves to show the strength of Aiolos local capability in Korea.

Volvo Truck CWT

The Volvo Truck Corporation contracted Aiolos to construct a 6.3 m² climatic wind tunnel designed for truck and bus drivetrain testing. The facility was optimized for high load testing at moderate driving speeds, over a temperature range of 10°C to 50 °C. The project involved several challenges, including coming up with an efficient return air circuit within a very restrictive building envelope and providing reduced background noise to aid vehicle operators in assessing drivetrain performance. Aiolos completed this successful project in 2001.

Volvo Car AWT Upgrade

Volvo Car Corp sole-sourced Aiolos to design, build, install and commission a test section insert for the 27m² slotted-wall test section to effect an increase in maximum wind speed from 200 to 250 kph. Included in the scope of supply was a portable boundary layer suction system which can be used to reduce the floor boundary layer thickness approaching a car when located on the chassis dynamometer. The insert system, which is removable in a short period of time, was completed in 2001.

GM Thermal/HVAC Climate Wind Tunnel Complex

Aiolos provided design services, as part of a consortium headed by Albert Kahn Associates to design and supply GM with three climatic wind tunnels: a new 50 ft² hot/cold CWT, a new 100 ft² hot/cold CWT and a refurbished existing 150 ft² hot CWT. All facilities were enclosed in a building provided by the consortium. The complex has been operational since 2000.

Ford UK Enviromental Test Laboratory (ETL)

The Ford Motor Company procured a large, self-contained Environmental Test Laboratory to greatly reduce the product development cycle time. The objective was to include all requisite test capability under one roof, with high productivity. The solution was to design and build a 4.65 m² CWT with altitude, a 2.5 m² CWT, a climate chamber with altitude and various preparation areas, soak rooms and a transfer area. Aiolos scope of supply on this project, which was operational in 2000, was engineering services and construction management assistance.

Sanden International CWT

Sanden International Europe’s New Headquarters and Technical Centre in Bad Nauheim, Germany features an Aiolos supplied 6m² Climatic Wind Tunnel. The wind tunnel, which became operational in 2000, was optimized for testing automobile air conditioning components and systems. Sanden set an aggressive humidity control specification because of the significant impact that humidity has on heat transfer. The resulting performance of Aiolos’ systems and controls exceeded Sanden’s specification giving Sanden a one-of-a-kind facility and setting the standard for the future.

Lola Cars International 50% Scale Wind Tunnel

This project was unique in that it involved a transformation of an existing aeronautical wind tunnel into a racing wind tunnel suitable for testing 50% scale open-wheeled models. Aiolos provided, on a turnkey basis, re-erection of the former BAe 9ft x 7ft wind tunnel, plus a new test leg incorporating a 2.7m x 2.5m solid-wall test section optimized for F1 class vehicles, and the design of new fan blades to accommodate the increased performance. The facility, which became operational in 1999, includes an overhead balance and moving ground (rolling road) system.

HMC Aeroacoustic Wind Tunnel (HAWT)

This wind tunnel has become the flagship facility for Hyundai Motor Company at their Namyang R&D Centre near Seoul, Korea. The major test capabilities of this wind tunnel, designated HAWT, are aerodynamic testing, aeroacoustic testing and hot thermodynamic testing. Support equipment in the 28 m² open-jet test section include an underfloor external balance, a chassis dynamometer, probe traverse system, and a variety of acoustic instrumentation. The Aiolos scope of work included overall design and performance responsibility, and specialized hardware supply, under contract to HEC of Korea. HAWT became operational in 1998. A subsequent contract to Aiolos included relocation of the 25% scale model wind tunnel from the HMC site in Ulsan to the HAWT building.