Environmental Flow Research Centre (EnFlo)
Parent Body: University of Surrey, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Guildford, GU2 5XH

Principal Functions
Creation of a wide range of stratified and/or turbulent flows.

General Details
Based on the relocation of National Power’s stratified flow laboratory from their old Leatherhead site to the Surrey campus, the University of Surrey has established a new Environmental Flow Research Centre (EnFlo). One of the centre’s objectives is to open its unique facilities to the European academic and industrial research communities concerned with fluid flow and pollutant dispersion in the Earth’s atmosphere and oceans. EnFlo houses two large rigs, which together enable a wide range of stratified and/or turbulent flows to be created.

Specification
The major facilities at EnFlo consist of:

A 27m × 3.5m × 1.5m meteorological wind tunnel, with comprehensive heating and cooling systems, allowing simulation of density stratified atmospheric boundary layers.

A 12m × 1.2m × 1m towing tank for the simulation of very stable flows. The tank includes an instrumented 1m × 1m cell at one end, equipped with heaters in the floor for studying convective conditions.

Special Features
Comprehensive instrumentation is available for the measurement of flow and tracer (gas or dye) concentrations. This includes a wide range of thermal and laser anemometry and gas chromatography. A rig for production of topographic site models is also available.

Future Plans
It is planned to develop a complete laser-based concentration measurement system.

Availability
The facility is available to other bodies in both the private and public sector. Time is allocated either by peer review or on a commissioned basis.

Charging Basis
Charging rates are subject to individual negotiation.

Contact Information
Professor Alan Robins
University of Surrey
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Guildford
GU2 5XH
Telephone:  01483 259684
E-mail:  a.robins@surrey.ac.uk