World-leaders in gas measurement and control instrumentation, Chell Instruments, have donated their nanoDAQ-LTS-16 miniature pressure scanner and quick start cable to Purdue Formula SAE racing team.
The technology will support the racing team from Purdue University as they seek to develop and validate their single-seater racing car for the 2026/27 season.
“We love working with universities on these types of projects and have already helped a number of student motorsport teams around the world. So, when students from Purdue contacted us, we were pleased to support them with our latest miniature pressure scanner and quick start cable!” says Jamie Shanahan, Director at Chell Instruments.
Founded in 1992, Purdue Formula SAE are a student-led racing team from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.
Made up of 50 students primarily from mechanical engineering courses, the team combine their engineering skills with state-of-the-art tools to manufacture Internal Combustion (IC) racing cars for the Formula SAE competitions.
This approach has delivered significant success for the team. In May, Purdue secured second place at FSAE Michigan 2026, with strong results across each category including second place in both Endurance and Autocross.
From this success, the team wish to enhance the competitiveness of their 2026/27 racing car with better Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) validation.
By using Chell’s nanoDAQ-LTS-16 pressure scanner to measure air pressure across components such as the front wing, rear wing, sidepods and floor, the team can now validate their CFD simulations against real-world data.
“Thanks to Chell’s donation of their nanoDAQ pressure scanner, we can now measure and compare real-world air pressure with our computer models. This will allow us to refine any miscalculated drag or downforce, ultimately helping improve the aerodynamics of our racing car for next season” says Lucas Wolf, Aerodynamics and Composite Lead of Purdue Formula SAE.
For 50 years, Chell Instruments have been providing pressure, vacuum and gas flow measurement equipment across a wide range of industries, including aerospace, pharmaceuticals, energy and – most notably – motorsport.
In motorsport, Chell work with almost all Formula 1 teams to provide cutting-edge pressure measurement equipment that helps assess the aerodynamic properties of racing cars, reduce drag and increase downforce.
“At Chell, we are always looking for ways where we can support the next generation of innovative engineering minds. We’re really excited to see our nanoDAQ-LTS-16 put to good use by the Purdue FSAE team and we hope it provides the aerodynamic validation needed to reach the top of the podium!” concludes Jamie.
For more information on Purdue Formula SAE, visit https://engineering.purdue.edu/fsae/wordpress/
For more information on Chell Instruments and their work in motorsport, visit https://chell.co.uk/specialisms/automotive-motorsport/
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