Building a wind simulator. Control amount of electricity?

[bkendra5]

Building a wind simulator. Control amount of electricity??

I have about 20 6" fans that i'd like to mount to something in which I can control electricity to each fan and essentially simulate wind.

I looked at light DMX controllers for DJ's and that would be perfect except the electricty going to each fan will be a variable all the time.

Just like wind, there would be LARGE increases of electricty simulating a gust of wind, and on nice sunny days would just be a calm flow of air.

I know it is something easy I just can't think of the correct terminology to describe it.

Also, each fan will have its own speed, one fan may be full blast and the next may be at the very minimum. I'd also like to see it go in a wave, so the first 3 will be full blast, then in a few seconds they would shift right. so the first fan would slow down and the next 3 would be full blast.

I'd like to be able to run a program or program some type of controller that will give me 3 different days and be able to turn off.

Hopefully this is descriptive enough.
Thanks in advance.

 

[sophiecentaur]

As you have so many fans, why not just turn them on and off, one by one or in groups, to achieve your variation in total wind? It is bound to be more difficult (expensive circuitry) to control the speed of each fan, remotely than just to turn it on and off with a relay.

 

[bkendra5]

Hey sophiecentaur,
Thanks for the quick reply, I appreciate that!

I do understand there will be a significant cost increase but the accomplishment of this project is worth more than the associated costs.

I also have another variable to throw into the mix, I want to control a linear actuator too, which will move the fan mount up and down.

Yay for complexity!

Please let me know if you have any suggestions.
Thanks again!

 

[Wetmelon]

Hi bkendra5!

Welcome to the PF, btw :)

The electronics technicians at the University of Western Ontario are currently in the process of building something very similar for the WindEEE Dome prototype fans. There are some 120 fans, each with an individual speed control board, all tied into a master controller board. I don't know the cost of the project, but I know that it is extremely complex.

If you want to look them up on the UWO website and give them a call, they may help put you on the right track, depending on what you're trying to do. I don't expect that they will give you specific details on the project or be able to invest a lot of time in helping you, but you can try ;)

http://www.eng.uwo.ca/electrical/e-shop/