For a thermally demanding compressor hall, it was necessary to verify during the planning phase whether a compressor emitting more than 80 kW of heat would be sufficiently cooled.
FlowMotion was commissioned to simulate the airflow and temperature distribution within the compressor hall using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Creating the numerical model required particular attention to accurately mapping all heat-emitting pipes and apparatus, which released an additional 85 kW of thermal energy into the room.
Given this high total heat load, significant temperature variations were expected within the hall. These variations, in turn, create density differences in the cooling air, inducing movement—a phenomenon known as ‘free convection’. To improve the accuracy of simulating these free convection currents, specialised numerical methods were employed, as was the case for the simulation of thermal radiation.
Ultimately, simulations were carried out for various ventilation concepts and weather conditions. After analysing the simulated velocity and temperature distributions, it was demonstrated that sufficient cooling could be guaranteed under all weather conditions, ensuring there was no risk to any of the components.
This project demonstrates that fluid simulations (CFD) can significantly increase planning reliability for complex ventilation systems, thereby helping to avoid time-consuming and costly retrospective modifications.
