CFD + Energy: Integrated Optimization

Jacob Knowles Michael Gilroy

Sustainability Director, BR+A HVAC Engineer, BR+A

@BRplusA

Join us on Twitter: #AU2013

BR+A Today – About Us
BR+A Today

Founded in 1975
Over 240 Employees
7 Offices Nationwide
Leaders in BIM 3D, 4D and Beyond
Employee Owned Company
Engineering Practice Focused Firm
We offer the following fully-integrated
services:
- MEP/FP Engineering
- Technology Systems Design
- Building Commissioning
- Sustainability / Energy Modeling
2030 Challenge +33% Average Existing Building
Case Study
Brainstorm
Metrics
Chilled Beams
Chilled Beams
 Chilled Beams | Life Cycle Cost Analysis
Life-Cycle Cost Study of Potential Chilled Beam Application
SPENT $/sf SAVED
-10 -8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10

Ducts Structure
ACB’s

AHU’s
CHW Pipe + Boxes
+
Envelope

Potential Revenue

Net 1st Cost

Energy-$ from ~8,000 sf
NPV
Reduced Shaft Area
CFD
CFD
CFD

Active Beam + Finned Active Beam +

Tube Radiant/Chilled Panel

Cooling (comfort) ? ?

Heating (comfort) ? ?

Energy ? ?
CFD

 Create Geometry
 Define Materials
 Add Boundary Conditions
 Generate Mesh
 Solve
 Analyze Results
 Repeat
CFD
Lighting

Soffit

Return Grille
Active Beam
Window
Exterior
Façade

Finned Tube Radiation

Design Model
CFD
Lighting
Active Beam

Soffit

Return Grille
Exterior
Façade
Window Occupant
Monitor

Office
Furniture

Finned Tube Radiation

“CFD Approved” Model

CFD
Lighting
Active Beam

Return Grille
Exterior
Façade
Window Occupant
Monitor

Office
Furniture

Finned Tube Radiation

Defining Materials
CFD

Defining Materials
 CFD
Heat Source
Mechanical Cooling/Heating,
Airflow in Zero Pressure Outlet

Environment
Heat Source
91 ⁰F
Heat Source
Or
0 ⁰F

Heat Source

Mechanical Heat Source

Boundary Conditions
 CFD
Soffit
Lighting Active Beam

Return Grille

Exterior Window Occupant

Façade Monitor

Office
Furniture

Finned Tube Radiation

Generation of Mesh
CFD

SYSTEM SUPPLY AIR

CHILLED BEAM COIL

INDUCED AIR

Identify Critical Mesh Zones

CFD

SYSTEM SUPPLY AIR

CHILLED BEAM COIL

INDUCED AIR

Identify Critical Mesh Zones

CFD

SYSTEM SUPPLY
AIR

CHILLED BEAM
COIL

INDUCED AIR

Identify Critical Mesh Zones

CFD

FINNED TUBE ELEMENT

Identify Critical Mesh Zones

CFD

Identify Critical Mesh Zones

CFD

Identify Critical Mesh Zones

CFD

Scenario Mesh Elements Run Time (hr)

ACB Only Cooling 2,797,645 8.8
ACB with Radiant Panel Cooling 2,952,734 9.6
ACB with Radiant Panel Heating 2,952,734 11.5
ACB with Finned Tube Heating 3,992,433 15.1
CFD
CFD
CFD
CFD
Thermal Comfort | ASHRAE 55
 Thermal Comfort is a “condition of mind which expresses satisfaction with the thermal
environment”. The primary factors are:
 Metabolic Rate (met)  Air Temperature  Air Speed
 Clothing Insulation (clo)  Radiant Temperature  Humidity
 Graphic Method: (must use a computer model, when outside these parameters)
1.0-1.3 met (typical office-work), 40 fpm max air speed (0.7 fps / 0.5 mph)

62.2

(trousers + (skirt + T-shirt)

sweater)

(average of air & mean radiant temp)

CFD
CFD

Finned
Tube Radiant Panel
Radiation
Cooling - -0.25 oF
Heating - +1 oF
Relative Value
Results 140
Site EUI

29%

120

100

Cooling

80 Heating

(kBtu/sf*yr)
Site EUI
Fans

Pumps
60
DHW

Equipment

Lighting
40
Site Lighting

20

-
Baseline As Designed
High-Performance Solution

+ + $