This autumn, the sun has figuratively risen in the Climate Wind Tunnel of our Center for Climate Comfort in Filderstadt: After extensive planning, a solar simulation system was finally integrated into the wind tunnel’s plenum. The installation was carried out by BF-Engineering, bringing to life an idea originally envisioned during the construction of the tunnel by Modine in 2003.
With the new “artificial sun,” test vehicles can now be exposed to defined solar radiation directly within the test section. This brings the test conditions in the climatic wind tunnel much closer to on-road scenarios. Until now, solar radiation as a key influence factor had been missing in hot-climate testing. This important component has now been added, enabling thermal loads in the vehicle to be reproduced even more realistically and allowing comprehensive hot-climate testing.
The solar simulator provides a reference area of 6 meters in length and 2.5 meters in width with a homogeneity of ±10%. At the reference height of 1.5 meters, irradiance levels can be set between 500 and 1280 W/m² — ranging from a slightly cloudy summer day in Central Europe to the intense sunlight of the Atacama Desert.
With this technological enhancement, FKFS now has access to new, highly realistic capabilities in climate testing. Demand for precise solar simulation in vehicle development is strong — and so, in the Filderstadt Climatic Wind Tunnel, the sun will shine regularly from now on, regardless of the weather.
If you have any questions, please contact our specialist:
Dr.-Ing. Timo Kuthada
T +49 711 685-65857