Detailed analysis of air movement is fundamental to the success of natural or low velocity ventilation systems as well as critical systems such as data centres.
Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is used by our Engineers to fully understand the air movement within a building in order to assist the building services design to provide a comfortable working environment
Computational Natural ventilation: Determine the optimum window design in regards to quantity and size of openable panes to solely provide natural ventilation; or assist a mixed mode ventilation strategy within a space.
Avoiding draughts: Determine the optimum supply air temperature and velocity and the specification and location of diffusers to maximise human comfort
Design optimisation: Determine the optimum arrangement of a space which allows ventilation and heating systems to work in harmony. Especially important where Hybrid ventilation units are specified
Banyards were recently appointed by VES to demonstrate the effectiveness of their classroom hybrid ventilation unit.
The hybrid unit supplies air into the space via the diffuser on the front end of the unit with a return air grille on the underside of the unit. During winter, the room air is mixed with the external ambient temperature air. During summer, external ambient temperature air is supplied directly into the space.
To demonstrate compliance with the DfE Output Specification the radiators were positioned underneath the return air grille to elevate the return air, which as a by-product increased the supply air temperature. The supply diffuser vanes were also angled 20-degrees upwards to take advantage of the air distribution Coanda Effect.
In doing so, it has been demonstrated that: