Climatic wind tunnel with altitude simulation

Challenge

With the construction of the new Simulation Center, Škoda Auto is pursuing its goal of creating state-of-the-art conditions for the development of sustainable vehicle technologies.

The facility should be capable of realistically simulating a wide variety of climatic conditions and driving situations—from extreme heat with intense sunlight to freezing temperatures, variable humidity, and rain.

The particular challenge was to combine these requirements in a semi-wind tunnel with altitude simulation up to 5500 m above sea level.

This is a unique project within the global Volkswagen Group.

In this demanding project, ETS assumed overall technical responsibility for the building services and technology.

The implementation required precise planning, in-depth technical expertise, and close coordination with the client and plant designer..

Solution

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.