Method and installation for generating a high mass flow of unpolluted high enthalpy air

An installation for generating an unpolluted high enthalpy air blast, said installation comprising:

• means for generating a blast of air under pressure;
• elongate adiabatic confinement means having an inlet in fluidic communication with said generating means, an outlet orifice, and a temporary closure device at said outlet orifice for containing a mass of feed air;
• means in thermal communication with said mass of feed air for heating said mass of feed air to a predetermined temperature;
• and
• a control system for initiating flow of said blast of air from said generating means on said mass of feed air so as to compress and heat said mass of feed air and open said outlet orifice at said temporary closure device.

A method for generating an unpolluted high enthalpy air blast of several seconds duration, said method comprising the steps of:

• storing a mass of feed air at a pressure in an elongate confinement tunnel, said elongate confinement tunnel having a length to mean width ratio of between about 20 and about 150, insulative walls, and a closed downstream orifice;
• heating said mass of feed air to a temperature of at least about 500K;
• preheating a mass of high-pressure air to a temperature of at least about said temperature of said mass of feed air;
• introducing said mass of high-pressure air to an upstream end of said mass of feed air so as to quasi adiabatically compress said mass of feed air to obtain a feed air temperature of at least about 1,800K;
• and
• opening said downstream orifice while continuously introducing said high-pressure air blast such that said mass of feed air is expelled through said downstream orifice in the form of a feed blast having a temperature which remains substantially constant for several seconds.

An installation for generating an unpolluted high enthalpy air blast of several seconds duration, said installation comprising:

• a blow down type wind tunnel for generating a blast of air under pressure;
• an air circulation line in fluidic communication with said blow down type wind tunnel for receiving said blast of air;
• an elongate confinement tunnel having an inlet in fluidic communication with said air circulation line, an outlet orifice, and a temporary closure device disposed at said outlet orifice for retaining a mass of feed air within said elongate confinement tunnel, said elongate confinement tunnel having a length to mean width ratio of between about 20 and about 150;
• means disposed within said elongate confinement tunnel for heating said mass of feed air to a temperature of at least about 500K;
• means in thermal communication with said blast of air for preheating said blast of air to a temperature of at least about said temperature of said mass of feed air;
• and
• a control system for initiating flow of said blast of air from said blow down type wind tunnel to said elongate confinement tunnel so as to compress and heat said mass of feed air and open said outlet orifice at said temperature closure device.