Lake Facility at Sandia National Laboratories

Support Types:
Non-Open Water, Tunnel, Flume, Tank & Basin

Application Areas:
Hydrodynamics

Technology Relevance:
OTEC, Wave

Location: 1611 Innovation Pkwy SE, Albuquerque, NM

Facility Overview

Located near the SWEPT facility and the SNL WP offices, this small lake facility (oversized outdoor tank) can be used to perform shakedown tests of WEC systems including mooring systems. Otherwise known as the Water Impact Facility located at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the lake facility provides a controlled environment for high-velocity water impact testing, gravity-assisted drop testing and underwater testing. A 300-foot drop tower stands next to a 120-foot-wide by 188-foot-long by 50-foot-deep lake. A total depth of 80 feet for underwater testing can be obtained via a 6-foot-diameter, 30-foot-long steel pipe at the bottom of the lake.

Dimensions:
Length: 55 m, Width: 36.5 m, Height: 15.25 m
Max depth: 24.25 m

Facility Capabilities

1611 Innovation Pkwy SE, Albuquerque, NM