ANSYS Case Studies Optimizing Ventilation Systems in Commercial Buildings: A Case Study of Dunham Associates

	Optimizing Ventilation Systems in Commercial Buildings: A Case Study of Dunham Associates ANSYS

Optimizing Ventilation Systems in Commercial Buildings: A Case Study of Dunham Associates

ANSYS

Technology Category	Sensors - Airflow Sensors Sensors - Infrared Sensors
Applicable Industries	Buildings Cement
Applicable Functions	Product Research & Development Quality Assurance
Use Cases	Building Automation & Control Indoor Air Quality Monitoring
Services	Hardware Design & Engineering Services Testing & Certification
Challenge	Dunham Associates, a mechanical and electrical engineering consulting firm, specializes in developing facility designs that maximize energy savings and optimize the indoor environment for building occupants. The company is committed to sustainable design and works closely with its clients to achieve facility goals. One of the challenges Dunham faces is designing effective complex mechanical ventilation systems for large new-construction commercial office buildings. Many of these projects seek Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification and incorporate innovative underfloor air distribution (UFAD) or displacement ventilation systems to deliver improved indoor air quality (IAQ) and thermal comfort to the building’s occupants. The ventilation system design must be optimized in terms of providing performance as well as energy efficiency. Read More
About Customer	Dunham Associates is a mechanical and electrical engineering consulting firm based in the U.S. The company develops facility designs that maximize energy savings and optimize the quality of the indoor environment for building occupants. Dunham utilizes high-performance engineering strategies to reduce operating costs and to ensure the comfort of those using the facility. The company is committed to the principles of sustainable design and works closely with its clients to achieve facility goals. Dunham believes in interacting early in the design process with the project's owner and architect and developing the design in a holistic approach. The company's design process for high-performance buildings includes computational fluid dynamics (CFD) airflow modeling, advanced design analysis, and careful equipment selection. Read More
Solution	To overcome the challenge, Dunham Associates turned to ANSYS Airpak airflow modeling. This technology allowed Dunham to explore the ventilation system performance in the design phase, rather than having to wait until construction was complete. This proactive approach enabled the company to streamline the selection of diffuser locations, optimize supply flow rates and temperatures, and quickly explore various design alternatives. ANSYS Airpak assists Dunham in the process of developing and evaluating building ventilation system design concepts. It also contributes to the evidence that a proposed design meets various rating criteria, including optimal energy performance, increased ventilation effectiveness, and compliance with standards for thermal comfort. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Sensors - Airflow Sensors

Sensors - Infrared Sensors

Applicable Industries

Buildings

Cement

Applicable Functions

Product Research & Development

Quality Assurance

Use Cases

Building Automation & Control

Indoor Air Quality Monitoring

Services

Hardware Design & Engineering Services

Testing & Certification

Challenge

Dunham Associates, a mechanical and electrical engineering consulting firm, specializes in developing facility designs that maximize energy savings and optimize the indoor environment for building occupants. The company is committed to sustainable design and works closely with its clients to achieve facility goals. One of the challenges Dunham faces is designing effective complex mechanical ventilation systems for large new-construction commercial office buildings. Many of these projects seek Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification and incorporate innovative underfloor air distribution (UFAD) or displacement ventilation systems to deliver improved indoor air quality (IAQ) and thermal comfort to the building’s occupants. The ventilation system design must be optimized in terms of providing performance as well as energy efficiency.

About Customer

Dunham Associates is a mechanical and electrical engineering consulting firm based in the U.S. The company develops facility designs that maximize energy savings and optimize the quality of the indoor environment for building occupants. Dunham utilizes high-performance engineering strategies to reduce operating costs and to ensure the comfort of those using the facility. The company is committed to the principles of sustainable design and works closely with its clients to achieve facility goals. Dunham believes in interacting early in the design process with the project's owner and architect and developing the design in a holistic approach. The company's design process for high-performance buildings includes computational fluid dynamics (CFD) airflow modeling, advanced design analysis, and careful equipment selection.

Solution

To overcome the challenge, Dunham Associates turned to ANSYS Airpak airflow modeling. This technology allowed Dunham to explore the ventilation system performance in the design phase, rather than having to wait until construction was complete. This proactive approach enabled the company to streamline the selection of diffuser locations, optimize supply flow rates and temperatures, and quickly explore various design alternatives. ANSYS Airpak assists Dunham in the process of developing and evaluating building ventilation system design concepts. It also contributes to the evidence that a proposed design meets various rating criteria, including optimal energy performance, increased ventilation effectiveness, and compliance with standards for thermal comfort.

Impact #1	The use of ANSYS Airpak technology has brought significant operational benefits to Dunham Associates. It has enabled the company to evaluate the ventilation system performance in the design phase, thus saving time and resources that would have been spent on post-construction adjustments. The technology has also allowed Dunham to streamline the selection of diffuser locations, optimize supply flow rates and temperatures, and quickly explore various design alternatives. This has resulted in more efficient and effective ventilation system designs that meet various rating criteria, including optimal energy performance, increased ventilation effectiveness, and compliance with standards for thermal comfort. Furthermore, the simulations using ANSYS Airpak technology have been helpful in evaluating the best use of project dollars and in identifying potential areas of conflict in the design.

Impact #1

The use of ANSYS Airpak technology has brought significant operational benefits to Dunham Associates. It has enabled the company to evaluate the ventilation system performance in the design phase, thus saving time and resources that would have been spent on post-construction adjustments. The technology has also allowed Dunham to streamline the selection of diffuser locations, optimize supply flow rates and temperatures, and quickly explore various design alternatives. This has resulted in more efficient and effective ventilation system designs that meet various rating criteria, including optimal energy performance, increased ventilation effectiveness, and compliance with standards for thermal comfort. Furthermore, the simulations using ANSYS Airpak technology have been helpful in evaluating the best use of project dollars and in identifying potential areas of conflict in the design.

Download PDF Version

Overview

Optimizing Ventilation Systems in Commercial Buildings: A Case Study of Dunham Associates

Operational Impact