Airflow Modeling

CFD Model of the National Museum of the Marine Corps Atrium

Air flow modeling, also known as Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) modeling, assists design teams to evaluate the environmental performance of their buildings and to refine innovative energy efficiency and sustainable design strategies that rely on air movement in and around the building, such as natural ventilation and underfloor air distribution. Architectural Energy Corporation air flow modeling staff use Airpak and Fluent, Airpak and Fluent two of the most sophisticated Computational Fluid Dynamic software packages available, to predict heat and mass flows in and around buildings. CFD modeling assists architects and engineers with numerous design-related decisions, including the following:

Window sizes and locations relative to natural ventilation
Building massing relative to wind impacts on building entrances/exits and HVAC exhaust/fresh air locations
Interior air path analysis for natural ventilation or pollution tracking
HVAC distribution analysis for alternative supply diffuser and return air locations
Stratification from an underfloor air distribution system or an atrium
HVAC ventilation effectiveness
Indoor air quality and comfort analysis
Atrium smoke management analysis