Ghibli PWT Hypersonic Wind Tunnel

The GHIBLI PWT is an hypersonic, high enthalpy, low pressure arc-jet facility that allows to perform tests for material samples characterization and selection, investigation of aerothermodynamic phenomena, CFD code validation and advanced measurement techniques development.
GHIBLI PWT is powered by an arc heater of max 2 MW maximum electrical power. The plasma flow of Air is accelerated to an hypersonic speed of about Mach 10 through a converging-diverging conical nozzle with an exit section of 152 mm of diameter for maximum 20 minutes test duration.
A model motion system injects the test article in the plasma jet inside the test chamber, an horizontal cylindrical vessel of 1800 mm inner diameter and 2000 mm length.

After the interaction between the flow and the test article surface, the plasma jet is convoyed to the diffuser where the hypersonic-subsonic transition takes place and then is cooled by an heat exchanger.

A vacuum system, consisting of root pumps, provides the proper suction during the facility operation before the ejection of the flow into the free atmosphere.