Magna-Power Selected to Power UTSI Hypersonic Wind Tunnel
Magna-Power Electronics has been selected to deliver a 3 MW DC power system for a new large-scale high-enthalpy hypersonic wind tunnel at the University of Tennessee Space Institute (UTSI) in Tullahoma, Tennessee.
Funded by a $17.8 million grant from the U.S. Air Force through the Air Force Research Laboratory, the facility will test thermal protection system (TPS) materials for vehicles traveling at speeds up to Mach 25, which is 25 times the speed of sound, and enduring surface temperatures exceeding 2,600 degrees Fahrenheit.
The UTSI wind tunnel is led by Damiano Baccarella, an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and an expert in hypersonic aerothermodynamics. The project team includes researchers from UT and the University of Dayton Research Institute, with expertise spanning hypersonic flow modeling, advanced materials development, and laser-based flow diagnostics.
“I'm excited to partner with Magna Power on this project,” Baccarella said. “They are leading experts in high-performance power supplies, and their input will be invaluable for integrating the electric power system of the new multi-megawatt arc-jet facility at UTSI.”
Part of Magna-Power’s recently released ML Series, the water-cooled architecture achieves nearly four times the power density of comparable air-cooled systems, providing a critical advantage for a facility designed to bridge the gap between laboratory-scale experiments and full-scale flight evaluations.
When operational, the UTSI facility will join only a handful of wind tunnels worldwide capable of simulating true high-enthalpy hypersonic flight conditions, helping to alleviate a persistent global bottleneck for TPS qualification testing.
"This project represents exactly the kind of application the ML Series was built for," said Adam Pitel, Chief Executive Officer of Magna-Power Electronics. "When we released the 1 MW ML Series, we knew it would allow us to deliver specialized multi-megawatt configurations in a much smaller footprint. Seeing three of these units come together to support hypersonic research at one of the nation's premier aerospace institutes is a proud moment for our entire team."
The addition of the new hypersonic wind tunnel enhances UTSI’s status as one of the premier research institutions for generating solutions, technologies, and systems to meet the nation’s aerospace and defense needs.
“This partnership is critical to the success of our plans to develop an integrated suite of research capabilities that will position UT to provide our industry and government partners a one-stop option for access to leading edge research and workforce essential for the development of game changing new high speed flight systems,” said UTSI Executive Director John Schmisseur.
About Magna-Power Electronics
Magna-Power Electronics is a leading manufacturer of high-quality programmable DC power supplies and electronic loads. With a commitment to innovation and excellence, Magna-Power has been serving a diverse range of industries since 1981. The company's products are renowned for their reliability, precision, and cutting-edge technology, making them the trusted choice of engineers, researchers, and professionals worldwide. Visit magna-power.com to explore the complete product lineup and discover how Magna-Power Electronics can power your innovation.
About AFRL
The Air Force Research Laboratory is the Department of the Air Force’s primary scientific research and development center and one of six centers within Air Force Materiel Command. AFRL leads the discovery, development and delivery of technologies for air, space and the multidomain. With a workforce spanning seven mission areas at more than 40 locations worldwide, AFRL conducts research ranging from basic science to advanced technology development. For more information, visit afresearchlab.com.
Contact
Rhiannon Potkey ([email protected])