Climatic wind tunnel with altitude simulation

With theconstructionofthenew Simulation Center, Škoda Auto ispursuingthegoalofcreatingstate-of-the-art conditionsforthedevelopmentofsustainablevehicletechnologies.The facilityshouldbecapableofrealisticallysimulating a widerangeofclimaticconditions and drivingsituations – from extreme heatwithintensesunlighttofreezingtemperatures, variable humidity, and rain.The particularchallenge was tocombinetheserequirements in a semi-wind tunnelwithaltitudesimulationupto 5500 m abovesealevel.This is a uniqueprojectwithinthe global Volkswagen Group. 

 In thisdemandingproject, ETS assumedoveralltechnicalresponsibilityforthe plant supply and technologysystems.The implementationrequiredpreciseplanning, in-depthtechnicalexpertise, and closecoordinationwiththeclient and plant designer.

Forthenew Simulation Center, ETS developed a holisticconceptforthetechnicalbuildingequipmentthatmeets all therequirementsfor a highlydynamic and climatologicaltestinfrastructure. The aim was tocreatetestscenariosthatwereasrealisticas possible – for passenger cars and light commercialvehicleswithconventional and electrifieddrives.The centerpiece oftheprojectisthe wind tunnelrealizedby ETS with an airspeedofupto 265 km/h and a volumeflowofapprox. 975,200 m³/h. The associated support structure was implementedas a specialsteelconstructionwith a total weightofaround 110 tons. Due tothe massive concreteshellforaltitudesimulation, theentiresteelstructurehadtobebrought in insmallpartsthroughthefewaccesspoints and the wind tunnelhadtobebuiltinsidetheconcreteshell. An enormouschallenge.