Architectural Training Package, ANSYS Fluent, 10 Practical Exercises

Architectural CFD Training Package by ANSYS Fluent

The engineers already widely use simulation technology in the automotive, aerospace, and other industries. But, its use in architectural areas and construction has been limited by a number of factors. The main obstacles are the lack of cost-effective tools as well as the specialized knowledge needed to use them successfully. Nevertheless, fluid flow simulation holds great promise for the AEC industry. CFD simulations give architects and engineers the ability to predict and optimize the performance of buildings. In the early stages of the design process, CFD simulations play the main role. With recent efforts to apply CFD technology, including the advent of easy-to-use CFD-based software like ANSYS Fluent, operating systems, and flexible pricing systems, it is no longer impossible to take full advantage of its full potential.

As an Architectural CFD Fluid Dynamics expert, MR CFD offers various CFD products in the architectural field. With the help of CFD modeling, AEC industry engineers are able to carry out the validation of HVAC systems and components, predict wind loads, optimize thermal comfort, control air quality, and pollution, and improve energy efficiency. This CFD training package includes 10 practical Architectural engineering exercises using ANSYS Fluent software. We suggest this package for all Architectural engineers who will learn CFD simulation in this field at every level of beginner, intermediate, or advanced.

We start this training package with 4 simple practical exercises for beginner users, in the External Flow field.

The first exercise simulates the airflow through an atrium by ANSYS Fluent software. The history of these atriums originates from the architecture of ancient Roman houses, and its modern models in recent centuries are multi-story and have a glass roof and a set of windows, often immediately located after the main entrances of the buildings. We use this part of the building to provide the necessary light for the interior of the building as well as the ventilation process.

The second project simulates the external flow of wind passing through the villa using ANSYS Fluent software. The geometry of the villa consists of several buildings and a special domain for the yard. The area around the villa is the airflow computational domain.

The third problem simulates the wind flow through several buildings in a given computational domain by ANSYS Fluent software. We consider these buildings as some barriers to airflow. The flow around the obstacles in the way of wind flow, such as the flow around buildings, aircraft wings, ship’s propellers, rigs, tall structures, etc., has many engineering applications, one of them is architectural.

Training number 4, simulates the airflow through three buildings in a triangular shape by ANSYS Fluent software. These buildings are barriers. In the present case, we consider a computational domain around buildings, where the wind enters it horizontally at a velocity of 5 m.s-1 and collides with the buildings.

Then we continue the training with 4 practical exercises in the field of internal flows for intermediate users, including the Architectural engineering role in HVAC of various structures.

Exercise number 5 simulates the internal airflow inside an atrium located in a complex by ANSYS Fluent software. Atrium works with two natural phenomena, including the greenhouse effect and the chimney effect. In the present case, the cylindrical area called the atrium in the central part of a complex is considered

Project number 6 is simulating the HVAC inside the room considering a solar chimney by ANSYS Fluent software. The present model consists of two main parts, including the interior of the room and a sloping solar chimney on the ceiling of the room. The solar chimney consists of glass plates on its side surfaces that are in contact with the environment and, as a transparent medium, receive the solar energy and also have a plate on its back as a heat-absorbing surface.

In exercise number 7, the conjugate heat transfer of airflow in a simplified 4-story building model applying wind tower is investigated by ANSYS Fluent software. Turbulent airflow enters the domain from the top left region due to heat transfer to air from the right diagonal wall with specific temperature and heat generation rate of solar radiation. conjugate (natural and forced convection) heat transfer leads to buoyancy effect which helps airflow to exit domain from the top right region.

Then, in the 8th project, we simulate the airflow and ventilation inside a windcatcher. The windcatcher is octagonal and has a relatively simple structure. The windcatcher consists of a column for pulling the out air to the inside or sucking up the air inside, room space for air circulation inside it, and a wall for the space around the building of this windcatcher, and also this windcatcher set is located in a large space of open airflow domain.

Advanced Users

Now it’s time to focus on the more advanced practical exercises for more professional users. We apply the DPM for modeling the dust particles spreading in a room. In project number 9, numerical simulation of dust particles entering from the windows into a room has been done using Ansys Fluent software. The dust particles entering the building at a speed of 0.25 m/s are examined, and the house’s sedimentation and dust movement are depicted. Also in this simulation, a two-way DPM model is used

As the last practical exercise, we consider radiation, as one of the expertise products of this CFD training package. In exercise number 10, heat transfer inside a room and a balcony is investigated by ANSYS Fluent software. The balcony has a glass roof and one glass wall. Due to the radiation of sunlight, both room and balcony become warmer and natural convection plays an important role in circulating the flow inside these spaces.