%0 Journal Article %A R.S Pugazenthi and Andy C. McIntosh %D 2011 %J International Journal of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering %B World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology %I Open Science Index 56, 2011 %T Design and Performance Analysis of a Supersonic Diffuser for Plasma Wing Tunnel %U https://publications.waset.org/pdf/3777 %V 56 %X Plasma Wind Tunnels (PWT) are extensively used for screening and qualification of re-entry Thermel Protection System (TPS) materials. Proper design of a supersonic diffuser for plasma wind tunnel is of importance for achieving good pressurerecovery (thereby reducing vacuum pumping requirement & run time costs) and isolating downstream stream fluctuations from propagating costs) and isolating downstream stream fluctuationnts the details of a rapid design methodology successfully employed for designing supersonic diffuser for high power (several megawatts)plasma wind tunnels and numerical performance analysis of a diffuser configuration designed for one megawatt power rated plasma wind tunnel(enthalpy ~ 30 MJ/kg) using FLUENT 6.3® solver for different diffuser operating sub-atmospheric back-pressures. %P 1682 - 1687