Le grand tunnel hydrodynamique (GTH)

Click to increase image sizeClick to decrease image sizeKnown as the GTH (Great Hydrodynamic Tunnel), the recently built French cavitation tunnel intended for research concerning naval hydrodynamics is situated in Val de Reuil, in the West of Paris. This installation comprises two parallelly placed test sections, one closed and the other in open space. The maximum velocities of flow are respectively 20 and 12 m/s. This article describes the main elements of the tunnel. The original control systems of microbubbles and energy recuperation of flows in open space are set out in more detail.