Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is a powerful tool utilised to provide our clients with the most accurate solutions.
Wind Turbine
In the constant push to reduce carbon emissions, more and more emphasis is placed on reducing the need for electricity generated by fossil fuels. In an effort to move from electricity generation concentrated at a power plant to a distributed generation system, the siting of wind turbines on buildings is generating interest. Because of the complex terrain and wind fields in a city, siting these turbines so that they are effective becomes a challenge. Using computational fluid dynamics, the wind field around a building, and those surrounding it, can be modelled for many different wind speeds and directions to pick locations on buildings that are un-shielded from the wind. This also allows mast heights to be selected to maximise the performance of the turbines for different wind conditions.
Melting snowpeople
Synergetics' advance modelling team consider environmental issues, such as global warming, extremely important. We go out of our way to make sure that no issue or detail is too small to not warrant investigation. To this end, wind flowing around a snowman was modelled using advanced CFD techniques, including gaseous species diffusion of smoke from his corn cob pipe and a Discrete Phase Modelling (DPM) of the ash particle dispersion.
The animation shows the wind distribution around the snowman at different heights. From such simulations, an average heat transfer coefficient of approximately 2W/m2.K was determined.
It is hoped that snow men and women will continue to florish across the world for the enjoyment of children everywhere, instead of just a curiosity for some CFD modellers with over active imaginations.
Fugitive emissions capture
CFD modelling, also known as Colourful Fluid Dynamics, is much hyped as being able to produce pretty and colorful images, but lacking in substance. Here at Synergetics, we make sure that our modelling is completely representative of real life.
The emissions modelling of a large scale aluminium casting process is directly compared to actual video footage. The visible plume shown is due to water vapourising after hitting the hot die surfaces. The first step in designing a fugitive emissions capture system is to determine the current extent of the emissions. This virtual environment allows a detailed assessment to be made, eliminating the need for on-site measurements which can be both hazardous and process restrictive.
Following initial assessment, the fugitive emissions capture system can be tailored to minimise energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Such systems are especially helpful to those industries with EPA emission licensing requirements.
Diesel train emissions
Gone are the grand old days of the railroad, where the whistles of steam locomotives could be heard for miles and the steady puffing of smoke was seen out of the smoke stacks. However, even though the cleaner diesel locomotive has replaced steam power, exhaust emissions are still present.
Synergetics modelling team has a vast experience in the modelling of transport emissions. Seen here is a 3D animation of diesel exhaust from a train passing through a tunnel. Such enclosed situations should be examined to maintain acceptable Occupational Health and Safety standards.
Synergetics transport modelling experience extends to road, rail, sea and air transport applications.
Process flow analysis
Many process flows have been designed using proven empirical engineering relationships. However, with climate change upon us, increased process efficiency is a vital component in the fight against global warming.
This 3D animation shows a typical air blower and nozzle arrangement. Pathlines coloured by velocity magnitude show the direction of the flow inside the enclosed ductwork. From a black box prespective, the flows are not perfect but meet specifications. Examination of the intertal flow structures, only possible using CFD modelling, show large areas of flow recirculation, resulting in decreased energy efficiency.
CFD modelling allows a process engineer to peer inside the steel and aluminium structures to reveal the complex interactions that occur in the most mundane operations.
Urban modelling
In the virtual wind tunnel available through CFD, the most complex urban environment can be easily modelled. This 3D animation illustrates shows how wind moves through the Melbourne CBD, with the pathlines being colored by the local wind speed. This is wind engineering made easy.
Such urban models are constructed within days and can be used to examine anything ranging from wind loading on structural facades to dispersion of pollutants and ground level pedestrian wind speeds. Such modelling can even be used to enable buildings to reduce their greenhouse gas emission by providing power estimates from roof top mounted wind turbines.
The modelling of polluntant dispersion within such an urban environment is overly conservative with all currently available regulatory approved Gaussian plume models, such as AUSPLUME. The experienced CFD modellers at Syneregtics are able to provide accurate emission concentration estimates, while still statisfying all of the regulatory guidelines.
Taking the model further, transient conditions can be applied which allows for emergency situaions, like the release of a chemical or radiological substance, to be modelled. This allows government agencies to determine accurate exposure ranges and emergency responses for such incidents.
Occupant comfort levels
On that hot summer's day, instead of turning on the air conditioner consider turning on a fan to promote natural evaporative cooling. Not only can you be comforted by the knowledge that you are generating up to 98 percent less greenhouse gas emissions, you can be assured that its performance has been fully optimised using the latest computer CFD modelling technology.
This 3D animation illustrates that the targeted air flow performs as designed. The focused air flow maximises entrainment, allowing optimised cooling while maintaining that subtle breeze ambience.
CFD modelling of the individual fan blade elements allows calculation of both occupant comfort levels and detailed fan performance. Time consuming prototype manufacture and testing can be a thing of the past in the new world of virtual prototyping that CFD modelling enables.
Complex dispersion modelling
In a world first CFD modelling exercise, unstable atmospheric weather conditions were modelled using a steady state simulation methodology. This 3D animation illustrates the dispersion of contaminated air from an industrial complex where elevated stack emissions are brought to ground through convective weather conditions. The resultant estimates of ground level concentrations were found to correspond with on-site measurements.
Not only are the local weather conditions accurately modelled, they are modelled within a complex industrial environment. This level of modelling is generations ahead of all conservative regulatory models.
Car exhaust dispersion simulation
This 3D animation visualises air flow within the house to illustrate how fumes from a car exhaust quickly spreads throughout the air within a garage and are available to leak into the house upstairs through the access doorway. Modelling of internal air flows can be used to examine cooling or heating system performance, assess effects of improved ventilation or changes to air flow, and reconstruct historical exposure events to support legal cases.
Process mixing simulation
This 2D animation shows the dynamic movement of process liquid in a rotating drum. This type of simulation is invaluable to accurately calculate heat and mass transfer from the liquid to the air as part of the process design. It has applications for cogeneration, drying and mixing processes.
Building cooling tower simulation
This 3D animation illustrates the dispersion of contaminated air from a cooling tower mounted on the roof of a building to assist with risk management of a cooling tower or process in an urban setting. The contaminated air is carried by the wind to an adjacent building where people can be exposed through air conditioning vents or any open windows or verandas. The contours are coloured from blue to red by increasing legionella concentration. Air dispersion modelling such as this represents best-practice for assessment of impacts of air emission from sources surrounded by building, large structures or complex terrain.
