Emerson Cavitation Tunnel
Parent Body: University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Department of Marine Technology, Armstrong Building, Queen Victoria Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 7RU

Principal Functions
Measurement of performance characteristics of marine propulsors.

Subsidiary Functions
Drag, flow visualisation and cavitation experiments on models.

Specification
Description of facility: vertical plane, closed circulating. Test section size: 3.10m × 1.22m × 0.81m. Contraction ratio: 4.271. Type of drive system: 4 bladed axial flow impeller with thyristor control. Main pump power: 300kW. Main pump rotational speed: 242rpm. Impeller diameter: 1.4m. Maximum velocity: 15.5kts (8m/s). Absolute pressure range: 7.6kN/m² (min) to 106kN/m² (max). Cavitation number range: 0.5 (min) to 23 (max). Dynamometers: Type 1 Kempf & Remmers H33 propeller dynamometer. Max thrust ±2943N. Max torque ±147Nm. Max rpm 4,000rpm. Type 2 Kempf & Remmers R45 with vertically adjustable drive system and suitable for placement inside of hull models. Max thrust ±687N. Max torque ± 39Nm. Max rpm 4,000rpm. Acoustics: Type Bruel & Kjaer 80133 miniature hydrophone and associated instruments. Location in a water filled, thick walled steel cylinder place on a 30mm perspex window above propeller. Model size: Model propeller diameters may vary in the range 150mm to 400mm depending on the type of test.

Special Features
A combined Laser Doppler Anemometry and Phase Doppler Anemometry system (LDA/PDA), using a Spectra Physics, water cooled Argon-Ion 4 watt output. 60mm diameter 2-D submersible probe with 600mm working distance. 2-D computer driven traverse with 590mm x 690mm travel. "FlashCam" Black/White CCD video camera with a fast electronic shutter. An external trigger source starts an exposure after a pre-set delay with a duration of 1us to 1ms. A high intensity Plasma lamp supplying illumination. High resolution colour digital still camera. Pictures in excess of 3 million pixels. Data Acquisition using National Instruments 16 Channel DAQ card and LabView graphical programming software. Funding is being restored for acquisition of Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) laser equipment.
Technical support: The tunnel is supported by its own scientific and technical staff and by the mechanical, electrical and electronic model making technicians of the Department of Marine Technology.

Future Plans
Increased verification of computational design techniques by use of experiments.

Availability
The facility is available to other bodies in both the private and public sector. There are no restrictions on the type of body that can apply to use the facility. The advance notice required when asking for time on the facility is negotiable.

Charging Basis
Charging rates are subject to individual negotiation. There is the possibility of negotiating an exchange agreement.

Site Access
The site has ready access for vehicles and local accommodation is available for the hirer’s staff.

Contact Information
Dr Mehmet Atlar, Director, or Mr Ian Paterson, Tunnel Supervisor
University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Department of Marine Technology
Armstrong Building
Queen Victoria Road
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
NE1 7RU
Telephone:  0191 2228977 Fax:  0191 2225491
Telex: UNINEW G
Email:       memhet.atlar@newcastle.ac.uk
Web Site:  http://www.staff.ncl.ac.uk/mehmet.atlar