Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is playing an increasingly important role in the industrial and civil engineering sectors as a design support tool. Numerical analysis is establishing itself as an innovative investigation method for studying heat transfer phenomena and thermal comfort issues, delivering immediate and significant qualitative and economic advantages.
Through CFD simulations it is possible, for example, to guide the design of ventilation systems for enclosed spaces or vehicle cabins to ensure high comfort levels, to improve safety devices in the presence of fire and smoke propagation, to optimize the size and location of building openings, to refine the performance of industrial furnaces or burners, and to improve the operation of refrigerated display cabinets for food preservation.
Heat Transfer & HVAC
CFD techniques enable the prediction of component or system performance and the understanding of a given phenomenon's evolution before any experimental prototype is built. This results in significant reductions in design and development time, inevitably leading to substantial cost savings.
The problems and phenomena that can be addressed in the Heat Transfer & HVAC field are countless, thanks to the ability to accurately reproduce all forms of heat transport: conduction, convection and radiation.
Fire Safety Engineering (FSE)
From a fire safety perspective, thermo-fluid dynamic analyses become a valuable prevention tool and can influence the design choices for any type of building and construction — stadiums, concert halls, theatres, supermarkets, warehouses, industrial environments, laboratories, hotels, tunnels, underground parking areas, schools, libraries, railway stations, airports, offices, and more.
Within the performance-based approach, advanced numerical software can simulate fire evolution and the diffusion of combustion products in the environment under study. Simulation results are typically used to study structural resistance and/or verify building evacuation. Advanced studies are possible for both suppression systems (water, gas) and smoke extraction systems. More generally, within the capabilities of the calculation code, the effects of any active protection device can be studied.
Key References
- Milan Central Railway Station
- Roma Tiburtina Railway Station
Deliverables
- CFD simulation reports with velocity, temperature and pressure maps
- Fire and smoke propagation analysis reports
- Structural thermal exposure assessment
- Ventilation optimization recommendations
- Evacuation time verification studies
Gallery
International Codes & Standards
Software
- ANSYS Fluent
- FDS (Fire Dynamics Simulator)
- PyroSim
- Pathfinder