TECH TALK
added, such as air temperature, pressure, humidity, velocity, flow and volume.
The CFD simulation produces cross sections of the room, with arrows indicating the pressure, temperature and velocity of the air flow, similar to a meteorological report. CFD enables us to analyse ventilation patterns such as different inlet directions and positions. Effectively, it enables the air to be visualised more easily than using probes in a laboratory.
Let’s consider an office space. Using CFD, we can visualise the direction and speed of air travel within the room. In the image below, the arrows show the air entering the room from the ceiling viaduct through a four-way diffuser. The air blasts into the room, then slows down as it loses energy and mixes with the room air. While the occupant would be comfortable at their desk, a draught would be felt walking past the grille. Spreading the air out over more diffusers is one
means of keeping the draught and air supply away from the occupant. Alternatively, the air could be introduced through the floor or wall to diffuse the air over a larger area, as shown in the image below, where the air is introduced through a floor grille. Air stream that is discharged close to and parallel to a surface, tends to cling to the surface. This is known as the coandra or ceiling effect.
There can be no one-size-fits all solution to product selection as a number of factors, including thermal and acoustic criteria, will influence specification. The air distribution requirements in a hotel bedroom, for example, will differ from those in of a restaurant or bar area. Architectural and aesthetic requirements also increasingly need
Combining aesthetics with functionality at Studley Castle
W
aterloo Air Products Plc’s grilles, air valves and diffusers have been used extensively throughout the
magnificently renovated Studley Castle, successfully creating the perfect environment at Warner Leisure’s new landmark hotel. Since being bought by Warner in 2016, Studley Castle has undergone a major three-year, £50m restoration and development programme to restore it to its former splendour. With comfort a top priority in this luxury hotel, ensuring optimum air quality was an essential requirement for Warner. But creating a unified hotel aesthetic was equally key. Waterloo was specified as the sole supplier due to its reputation for quality product operation and design.
Working with M&E Service Contractors LJJ, Waterloo was tasked with supplying a combination of grilles, air valves and circular diffusers that would deliver the required high performance while blending seamlessly into the décor.
to be considered alongside functionality when determining the type and location of a grille or diffuser. Adopting a bespoke approach to design will
undoubtedly result in the best solution, but it can be a complex and time-consuming challenge. CFD
“The architect and client had a very clear vision of what they wanted to achieve with this building, and it was our job to combine aesthetics with functionality to make their vision a reality,” said Gerry McNally, project manager at LJJ.
Waterloo’s solution was a series of bespoke-
designed grilles, produced in six different colours, that successfully met all the particular aesthetic requirements of each room while operating to the highest standard for maximum comfort levels. To enable easier future maintenance of the air
conditioning, Waterloo provided a dual-purpose combined air grille and access grille to make them maintenance-friendly while maintaining the aesthetic feel of the building.
Gerry added: “This was a challenging project that required full collaboration from Waterloo. The end result is outstanding – and we couldn’t have done it without their support.”
allows engineers to design the air flow more rapidly and accurately to meet the customer specification for the environment. And for manufacturers like Waterloo, it provides an efficient means of ensuring that the most effective products are designed to ensure optimum high-performance results.
www.acr-news.com
January 2020 17
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