CFD software for natural ventilation of building & urban design

Christian Bosselmann · February 18, 2011, 01:42

Dear Forum
working as a consulting architect/engineer in the field of energy efficient building design I would like to get familiar with a CFD simulation tool to be used during the shematic design process of building and urban design projects.

We have engineers working with Openfoam. As this program is not very practical to use during a short architectural competition we are looking for an additional CFD tool.

I would like to simulate air speed and temperature of urban designs and natural ventilation concepts of facade variants.

Already using Ecotect, I have read about Winair4. The informaiton I found was quite confusing and I did not find any link to download the software. Also the Ecotect forum was of no help.

Can anyone give me some information on Winair4 and where to download it, legally?

Or can anyone suggest another CFD tool for the scope mentioned above?

Thanks a lot in advance
Christian

Ahmed · February 19, 2011, 09:00

This might help
http://www.aij.or.jp/jpn/publish/cfdguide/index_e.htm
Good Luck

julien.decharentenay · February 20, 2011, 18:22

Hi Christian,

There are quite a number of CFD tools around that could be suitable:
- Phoenix (from CHAM);
- FloVent;
- General purpose CFD softwares (Fluent, CFX, STAR-CD, etc).

Building analysis tools often incorporates a CFD modules (IES, DesignBuilder). Ecotect can also link with FDS - although I believe it may be less practical than OpenFOAM.

Being a bit of Google Sketchup user, VirtualWind is available for pedestrian wind study. There is also Khamsin (which I develop), but it is very limited at the moment.

Kind regards.
Julien

julien.decharentenay · February 21, 2011, 00:45

One more:

- CFdesign (by Blue Ridge Numerics) - it provides an interface to Revit (according to the documentation) and is being purchased by Autodesk.

Christian Bosselmann · February 23, 2011, 03:40

Thanks a lot for the extensive list. I had a look at the software and inquired about the prices.
best regards
Christian

Faraday · March 31, 2011, 15:15

Christian,
You should try to have a look at the code Urbawind (Meteodyn). It looks like they have a module for natural ventilation.

I don't think that virtualwind exists anymore.

Best,
Faraday

Christian Bosselmann · April 1, 2011, 03:00

Dear Faraday
thanks a lot
best regards

February 18, 2011, 01:42	CFD software for natural ventilation of building & urban design	#1
Christian Bosselmann New Member Christian Bosselmann Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Shanghai Posts: 3 Rep Power: 15	Dear Forum working as a consulting architect/engineer in the field of energy efficient building design I would like to get familiar with a CFD simulation tool to be used during the shematic design process of building and urban design projects. We have engineers working with Openfoam. As this program is not very practical to use during a short architectural competition we are looking for an additional CFD tool. I would like to simulate air speed and temperature of urban designs and natural ventilation concepts of facade variants. Already using Ecotect, I have read about Winair4. The informaiton I found was quite confusing and I did not find any link to download the software. Also the Ecotect forum was of no help. Can anyone give me some information on Winair4 and where to download it, legally? Or can anyone suggest another CFD tool for the scope mentioned above? Thanks a lot in advance Christian

February 20, 2011, 18:22		#3
julien.decharentenay Senior Member Julien de Charentenay Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Australia Posts: 231 Rep Power: 17	Hi Christian, There are quite a number of CFD tools around that could be suitable: - Phoenix (from CHAM); - FloVent; - General purpose CFD softwares (Fluent, CFX, STAR-CD, etc). Building analysis tools often incorporates a CFD modules (IES, DesignBuilder). Ecotect can also link with FDS - although I believe it may be less practical than OpenFOAM. Being a bit of Google Sketchup user, VirtualWind is available for pedestrian wind study. There is also Khamsin (which I develop), but it is very limited at the moment. Kind regards. Julien pete likes this. __________________ --- Julien de Charentenay

February 21, 2011, 00:45		#4
julien.decharentenay Senior Member Julien de Charentenay Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Australia Posts: 231 Rep Power: 17	One more: - CFdesign (by Blue Ridge Numerics) - it provides an interface to Revit (according to the documentation) and is being purchased by Autodesk. __________________ --- Julien de Charentenay

February 23, 2011, 03:40	thanks	#5
Christian Bosselmann New Member Christian Bosselmann Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Shanghai Posts: 3 Rep Power: 15	Thanks a lot for the extensive list. I had a look at the software and inquired about the prices. best regards Christian

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February 19, 2011, 09:00		#2
Ahmed Senior Member Ahmed Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: NY Posts: 251 Rep Power: 18	This might help http://www.aij.or.jp/jpn/publish/cfdguide/index_e.htm Good Luck

March 31, 2011, 15:15		#6
Faraday New Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 4 Rep Power: 16	Christian, You should try to have a look at the code Urbawind (Meteodyn). It looks like they have a module for natural ventilation. I don't think that virtualwind exists anymore. Best, Faraday

April 1, 2011, 03:00		#7
Christian Bosselmann New Member Christian Bosselmann Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Shanghai Posts: 3 Rep Power: 15	Dear Faraday thanks a lot best regards