The wind channel is ready for use!
To find out which TCEs can be absorbed by plants, substrate and water in facade greening, a wind channel was constructed over the last months. The channel offers the possibility to measure input quantities of different PM sizes at different locations within different facade greening systems. The dimensioning of the wind channel was designed for one square meter of facade area and has a total length of 4.33 m and a test area of 1.21 m2.
To measure the prevailing climatic conditions, five 2D wind velocity and wind direction sensors were installed at three different heights on the measuring section, as well as before and after the test field. In addition, three air temperature and relative humidity sensors were installed in the measuring section.
The wind channel is operated with an AC axial fan. A fan speed controller was used to regulate the wind speed. The first preliminary tests without vegetation showed a minimum wind speed of 0.5 m/s and a maximum wind speed of 2.5 m/s in operation, with an incidence angle of 90°.
Two different facade greening systems were selected for the initial tests with the wind channel. On the one hand, a system with climbing plants and climbing aids, as well as a cassette system with perennials. The plants were selected based on the plants available from our partners MA31 and MA48 on real facades installed in Vienna, as well as based on different plant physiological properties.
The first tests will start in November anTwo different facade greening systems were selected for the initial tests with the wind channel. On the one hand, a system with climbing plants and climbing aids, as well as a cassette system with perennials. The plants were selected based on the plants available from our partners MA31 and MA48 on real facades installed in Vienna, as well as based on different plant physiological properties.
The first tests will start in November and take place in the experimental garden of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (Institute of Soil Bioengineering and Landscape Construction (IBLB) in Groß-Enzersdorf / Lower Austria.
The following pictures show some Impressions of the construction days of the wind channel: