The TFMRC has test cells, a workshop, a range of experimental rigs, and supply compressors, including a Rolls-Royce Dart gas turbine (3000 hp) driven compressor, which delivers a continuous air supply of 10 kg/s at 3 bar for the various gas turbine experimental rigs. Data-loggers, Laser-Doppler Anemometry (LDA) and Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV), thermal imaging and pyrometry and other instruments and techniques are used to measure pressure, temperature and velocity. Computing facilities include PC clusters, which are capable of handling some of the larger problems in computational fluid mechanics (CFD).
Rapid Prototyping Service
We recently purchased a Z-Corp colour 3D printer. This rapid prototyping machine can produce full colour complex geometric models in a matter of hours from original 3D CAD models. This means that companies and individuals can save valuable time and money in the realisation of their designs, reducing the prototyping process from weeks to hours. Click here for more information
Hot Wire Anemometry
Dantec 6 Channel Stream Line Constant Temperature Anemometry system, Velocity calibration unit, Dantec StreamWare software, various probes.
Temperature and Pressure calibration equipment
Gallium cell, Water Triple point cell, Isotech oil bath, Water bath, Distilled water maker, Ice baths, distilled water ice maker, Traceable PRTs, Dead weight tester, Druck calibrators.
Temperature and Pressure instrumentation
Extensive experience in the manufacture, calibration and installation of thermocouples and pressure transducers including Type K thermocouples, Type T thermocouples, Druck and Kulite pressure transducers, static pressure tappings, yaw probes, pressure rakes, total temperature rakes.
Former staff member, Prof Peter Childs, is author of a text entitled Practical Temperature Measurement and three ESDU items on temperature measurement
DART air supply
A Rolls-Royce DART gas turbine engine has been installed at the University of Sussex driving a two-stage centrifugal compressor to provide a circa 10 kg/s, 4 bar absolute, 200 °C air supply for four test cells. The facility is the most powerful in any UK university.
Compressors
Atlas Copco Air Supply -- An Atlas 0.8 kg/s, 7.5 bar absolute cooled and dried air supply is available and principally used for providing an independent internal air supply, for driving turbochargers and for heat exchanger testing.
Blackman Blowers -- Two Blackman Blowers, each rated at 1 kg/s, 1.5 bar
Hydrovane Shop Air Line -- 0.1 kg/s, 6 bar