Gamesa and UPM (acronym in Spanish for the Technical University of Madrid) have signed a memorandum of understanding for the joint design, development and operation of an aerodynamic testing tunnel in Madrid, Spain.
The facility will measure around 70 metres long and 50 metres wide. The facility will enable the performance of aerodynamic, aeroacoustic and aeroelastic measurements. This new tunnel will allow Gamesa to perform full-rotor (three blades and hub) aerodynamic noise measurements, dynamic tests and simulations in Spain. Until now the company had to resort to university labs outside Spain to perform these tests. In addition the facility will enable static testing of turbine blades by simulating the incidence of wind from any direction and at any type of site. It is expected that the tunnel, which will be managed by a trust comprising representatives from UPM and sponsoring companies such as Gamesa, will begin to operate during the last quarter of 2016.