Photo gallery, then and now

Background

The FPRL is located within the Fluid Machine Laboratory of the Department of Energy. It replaced the old gallery previously used for testing engines under high-altitude conditions. The following images depict the dismantling of historical equipment in the early 1980s.

The old laboratory

The first FPRL occupied an area of 200 square meters on the ground level. Within this open space, all test rigs for educational and research purposes were housed (see the following photos). Two flights of stairs provided access to an equivalent area in the basement, which accommodated two central oil feed systems alongside various decommissioned equipment.

The construction of the new laboratory

In 2003, all test rigs were temporarily removed to facilitate the construction of the current laboratory. An acoustically insulated cell was built to host up to three test rigs. This cell was equipped with air treatment systems and connected to the electric, hydraulic, and pneumatic distribution networks. The two oil feed systems were relocated to the basement, and the oil distribution network was rebuilt. The following photos illustrate the different phases of the construction process.

Downstairs floor Sound proof cell for test rigs Sound proof cell for test rigs Sound proof cell for test rigs Sound proof cell for test rigs First floor - September 2017 First floor - September 2017

The new laboratory

The new laboratory was completed in 2005, with the final test rig installed in 2007.

In 2018, the laboratory expanded to include a new floor. This addition features a didactic laboratory for component disassembly and an open space designed to accommodate PhD students and research assistants.

The photos below show the current layout.