Internal Airflow of Atrium CFD Simulation

This BEGINNER level ANSYS Fluent CFD simulation tutorial introduces learners to the basics of internal airflow analysis using a simplified atrium model. The episode is designed to provide a foundational understanding of airflow simulations in ANSYS Fluent, making it accessible to those new to computational fluid dynamics and building physics.

Key aspects of this beginner-friendly simulation include:

Internal Airflow Basics: Introduction to the principles of air movement within an enclosed space.

Steady-State Analysis: Focusing on a steady-state scenario to simplify the simulation and understanding of airflow patterns.

Simple Geometry: Using a basic representation of an atrium to keep the focus on airflow concepts rather than complex architectural details.

Incompressible Flow Model: Treating air as an incompressible fluid, which is a common simplification in beginner CFD studies.

Basic Boundary Conditions: Setting up simple boundary conditions such as velocity inlet for air supply and pressure outlet for exhaust.

Solver Settings: Overview of fundamental solver settings in ANSYS Fluent for internal airflow problems.

Basic Turbulence Model: Introduction to a simple turbulence model, likely the standard k-ε model, to account for turbulent air movement.

Basic Post-Processing: Learning to visualize and interpret results such as velocity vectors and airflow streamlines within the atrium.

This beginner-level training aims to familiarize students with the process of setting up and running a basic internal airflow simulation in ANSYS Fluent. It provides practical knowledge applicable to architectural and HVAC engineering fields dealing with indoor air distribution.

The tutorial emphasizes a step-by-step approach, guiding participants through each stage of the simulation process, from defining the physics and boundary conditions to interpreting the results. This hands-on experience lays a solid foundation for more complex building airflow simulations in the future, without delving into advanced concepts like buoyancy-driven flows.