Facilities
Air Dispersion
Evaluation and Control Laboratory
Room 1242 Swine
Nutrition and Management Research Center, ISU
Air Dispersion Laboratory
(ADL)
1333 V Avenue,
Ames
ADL is a full-scale testing chamber designed to test livestock
ventilation systems in a simulated production arrangement. ADL can test
and monitor fan, inlet, and controller performance simultaneously to
assess how well a ventilation system controls desired temperature and
airspeed levels in the animal zone. ADL is flexible enough to test
sidewall, pit, and chimney exhaust ventilation systems with ceiling,
sidewall, or curtain sided inlets.
Atmospheric Air Quality Laboratory
(AAQL)
National Swine Research and
Information Center, ISU
The laboratory serves as a focal point for collaborative research and
training in the area of air quality engineering and livestock odor for
Iowa and beyond. The laboratory strives to serve students, faculty, and
visiting scientists working on improving air quality in and near
livestock and poultry operations. Collaborators include fellow
faculty members at ABE, researchers at the USDA-ARS-Swine Odor and
Manure Management Research Unit, and several leading university research
groups in U.S. and Europe. Industrial collaborators include
Microanalytics, a flavors, aromas and odors instrumentation and
analytical services company. The laboratory is equipped with the
state-of-the art instrumentation for chemical and olfactometry analysis
of livestock odor.
Compressed Air Systems Laboratory
The Compressed Air Systems Laboratory contains a state-of-the-art
compressed air system similar to that found in any industrial facility.
Major components in the system are a 5hp reciprocating compressor, a 30hp
screw compressor, two receivers, a refrigeration-type dryer, filters,
regulators and distribution manifolds. Additional compressors and dryers
also operate in the laboratory.
Environmental Control Chamber Laboratory
Two side-by-side temperature controlled rooms make up the Environmental
Control Chamber Laboratory, which can be used for a variety of HVAC
related research activities. Each room contains a full range of air
conditioning equipment, including chilled-water coils, steam coils, and
humidifiers, thus allowing each room to be individually controlled to
specific temperatures and humidity conditions.
Heating, Ventilation and
Air-Conditioning (HVAC) Laboratory
2103 Black Engineering
The HVAC Laboratory contains three major test facilities including an
HVAC Air Flow Loop, Refrigeration System Test Bed and finally a Humidity
Sensor Test Facility. The HVAC Air Flow Loop is a multi-purpose facility
designed to simulate a variety of HVAC systems as presently installed in
actual buildings. Components installed in the HVAC Air Flow Loop are a
variable speed fan (up to 1500cfm), a steam humidifier, VAV boxes,
air-to-air heat exchangers, an air flow measuring station, humidity
sensors, and four different types of air-to-fluid coils, including a
steam, a hot water, a chilled water and a refrigerant evaporator DX coil.
Industrial Assessment
Center (IAC)
2043 Black Engineering, ISU
The Industrial Assessment Center at Iowa State University (ISU)
provides free energy use, productivity enhancement, and waste reduction
assessments to qualifying manufacturers. The IAC program at ISU is one
of 26 IACs located nationwide and is funded by the U. S. Department of
Energy.
Refrigeration
Laboratory
1121 Black Engineering
The Iowa State University Refrigeration Laboratory contains a range of
test and research facilities used for cutting edge research on heat
transfer and property characteristics of new working refrigerants. These
same facilities are also used to characterize unique refrigerant and
lubricant mixtures along with refrigerant type nanofluids.
Regional Climate Modeling
Laboratory
Climate models based on fundamental conservation principles are used
to simulate regional climate change and variability consistent with
expected patterns of global climate change due to increases in
greenhouse gas concentrations. Current applications include studies of
changes in frequency and characteristics of extreme meteorological
events, changes in wind power and solar power availability, and changes
in stream flow and flood potential under future scenario climates.
Shelterbelt Research Laboratory
By use of a numerical model for simulating turbulent flow through
vegetative barriers, we simulate mean and turbulent flow through trees,
shrubs, crop canopies and around buildings. The flow model, coupled with
a Lagrangian particle transport model, enables numerical simulation of
pollen through and out of corn fields, dust and odor transport from
animal confinement systems, and snow transport and deposition in the
vicinity of solid and porous barriers.
Wind Simulation and Testing Laboratory (WiST)
Howe Hall, ISU
A world-class Wind Simulation and Testing (WiST) Laboratory is being
setup at Iowa State University (ISU). This laboratory that occupies a
space of 12,000 sq. ft. is located in the Department of Aerospace
Engineering and Engineering Mechanics in Howe Hall on the ISU campus. WiST
Lab will be a state-of-the-art experimental facility for conducting
research, education, consulting and outreach in the subject area of
wind-structure interaction. When completed it will be a one-of-a-kind
facility for applications in wind engineering, aeronautics and industrial
aerodynamics. It will include a wind tunnel with two test sections,
aerodynamic and atmospheric boundary layer, along with features that are
unique among all university-operated wind tunnels in the nation. WiST Lab
will help ISU provide high-quality educational and research opportunities
to young engineers to prepare them for the challenges of the 21st century.
