Search Results (23)

Building Information Modeling (BIM)-enabled performance assessment workflows for rural constructions remain relatively unexplored. This is even more important for buildings implementing process-oriented systems, such as airflow networks. This study presents a BIM-integrated framework for the early-stage design and performance assessment of rural constructions, with application to solar barn dryers and their ventilation systems through reduced-order airflow-network modeling. The proposed workflow combines parametric BIM-based geometry generation with lumped-parameter fluid-dynamic modeling to evaluate the influence of airflow-network topology on pressure losses, airflow distribution, fan power demand, and energy consumption. Nine BIM-generated design alternatives and ten geometric parameter sets were investigated under equivalent operating conditions. The airflow system was represented as a pressure-driven network including solar air panels, ducts, collectors, fan chambers, ventilation channels, and drying cells, accounting for both localized and distributed pressure losses. Results show that airflow-network geometry significantly affects system performance. Configurations characterized by more compact and aerodynamically efficient layouts reduced cumulative pressure losses by approximately 10–20% compared with less optimized solutions. More efficient designs enable reductions in required airflow rates of ~22% and in fan power demand of up to ~40% (≈11–18 kW). The most efficient configurations also exhibited lower annual energy consumption while maintaining the minimum overpressure required for effective hay drying. The study demonstrates how BIM environments can support physics-informed comparative evaluation of alternative ventilation layouts during the early design stage, extending BIM applications toward performance-oriented design and digital management of agricultural building systems. The proposed methodology provides a computationally efficient design-support framework that may also apply to other controlled-environment agricultural infrastructures governed by airflow-network dynamics. Full article

The influence of pleat angle on the pressure drop of H14 HEPA filters was investigated through a mathematical model that represents the filter as a system of converging–diverging channels coupled with porous filtration media. The analysis was conducted for pleat angles ranging from 1° to 20° under a constant laminar airflow rate of 0.167 m³/s and 0.45 m/s velocity. The model combines Darcy–Forchheimer flow through the filtration media with laminar channel flow theory, enabling the total pressure drop to be expressed as a function of pleat geometry and subsequently optimised through analytical differentiation. The results show that the pressure drop contribution of the filtration media increases with the pleat angle, from 10.57 Pa at 1° to 213.49 Pa at 20°, whereas channel losses decrease sharply from 1121.71 Pa to 2.75 Pa over the same interval. The competing behaviour of these two mechanisms generates a minimum total pressure drop of 94.56 Pa at a pleat angle of approximately 6°, compared with 120 Pa for the current industrial configuration operating at 3.73°. This represents a pressure drop reduction of approximately 21.2%, implying a corresponding decrease in fan energy consumption without compromising filtration performance. The analysis further demonstrates that very small pleat angles (1–2°) are highly unfavourable, producing total pressure drops between 301 and 1132 Pa due to severe channel constriction, while for angles above 13–14°, the channel contribution becomes negligible, and the overall pressure drop is governed almost entirely by the filtration media. These findings provide quantitative design criteria for optimising HEPA, EPA, and ULPA filter geometries, highlighting pleat angle as a critical parameter for improving aerodynamic performance, flow uniformity, and energy efficiency in high-purity environments. The proposed model was further assessed using a commercially available H14 HEPA filter with 188 pleats, an effective filtration area of 10.618 m², and a nominal airflow rate of 600 m³/h, demonstrating its applicability to real industrial filter configurations. Full article

This work investigates the performance degradation of dual vertical axis wind turbines at low tip speed ratios using numerical simulation using two-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD). In order to address this problem, it suggests a unique deflector configuration and arrangement. The results show a 21.33% improvement in self-starting potential at low TSRs when dual-configuration deflectors are deployed close to the twin rotors. Additionally, the average torque coefficient increases by 24.31% and the peak power coefficient increases by 53.12%, indicating a significant improvement in performance at high tip speed ratios. While curved deflectors on both sides provide converging channels that increase flow volume and dynamic pressure in the downwind zone, the central deflector decreases reverse airflow in the midsection. The proposed deflector arrangement also exhibits great potential for the compact layout of wind farm arrays; the accelerated wake recovery characteristic is beneficial to improving the overall efficiency of wind farms. With important ramifications for the advancement of renewable energy technology, this work provides fresh insights into dual vertical axis wind turbine optimization. Full article

The paper presents a comprehensive aerodynamic analysis of toroidal blade turbines, proposing them as a novel approach to enhance efficiency in the conversion of airflow kinetic energy. The unique toroidal blade geometry allows for reduced vortex-induced losses and improved aerodynamic performance relative to conventional blade configuration. The study encompasses crucial performance parameters, including the airflow velocity at the outlet of the aerodynamic channel, rotational speed of the turbine model, electrical current and voltage output, the electrical power produced by the generator, and the power coefficient. Explored are strategies for optimizing structure design to minimize losses and maximize the power coefficient. The findings reveal that toroidal blade designs can significantly increase the effectiveness of low-power turbines, establishing them as a promising alternative for renewable energy applications in both urban and rural environments. Full article

Hydrogen-powered unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) offer significant advantages, such as environmental sustainability and extended endurance, demonstrating broad application prospects. However, the hydrogen fuel cells face prominent thermal management challenges during flight operations. This study established a numerical model of the fuel cell thermal management system (TMS) for a hydrogen-powered UAV. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were subsequently performed to investigate the impact of various design parameters on cooling performance. First, the cooling performance of different fan density configurations was investigated. It was found that dispersed fan placement ensures substantial airflow through the peripheral flow channels, significantly enhancing temperature uniformity. Specifically, the nine-fan configuration achieves an 18.5% reduction in the temperature difference compared to the four-fan layout. Additionally, inlets were integrated with the fan-based cooling system. While increased external airflow lowers the minimum fuel cell temperature, its impact on high-temperature zones remains limited, with a temperature difference increase of more than 19% compared to configurations without inlets. Furthermore, the middle inlet exhibits minimal vortex interference, delivering superior thermal performance. This configuration reduces the maximum temperature and average temperature by 9.1% and 22.2% compared to the back configuration. Full article

We developed a microscale airflow modeling system with detailed building and terrain data to better understand the urban microclimate. Building shapes and heights, and terrain elevation data were integrated to construct a high-resolution urban surface geometry. The system, based on computational fluid dynamics using OpenFOAM, can resolve complex flow structures around built environments. Inflow boundary conditions were generated using logarithmic wind profiles derived from Automatic Weather System (AWS) observations under neutral stability. After validation with wind-tunnel data for a single block, the system was applied to airflow modeling around a university campus in Seoul using AWS data from four nearby stations. The results demonstrated that the system captured key flow characteristics such as channeling, wake, and recirculation induced by complex terrain and building configurations. In particular, easterly inflow cases with high-rise buildings on the leeward side of a mountain exhibited intensified wakes and internal recirculations, with elevated centers influenced by tall structures. This modeling framework, with further development, could support diverse urban applications for microclimate and air quality, facilitating urban resilience. Full article

A new lift enhancement scheme is designed for the cruise flight process of a tail-sitter UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle), proposing a fusion configuration with embedded grid channels on the duct wall. The low pressure zone at the lip of the duct is induced to expand through the grid channels, forming a significant force component difference with the non-grid side, thereby generating significant lift effects for the propeller of the ducted fan during level flight. Taking a ducted fan system as an example, a design method for embedding grids into the ducted wall is established. By using the sliding mesh technique to simulate propeller rotation, the effects of annular distribution angle, grid channel width, circumferential and flow direction grid quantity on its aerodynamic performance are evaluated. The results indicate that the ducted fan embedded in the grid can generate a lift about 22.16% of total thrust without significantly affecting thrust and power characteristics. The increase in circumferential distribution angle increases within a reasonable range and benefits the lift of the propeller. However, the larger the grid width, the more it affects the lip and tail of the duct. Ultimately, the overall effect actually deteriorates the performance. The number of circumferential grids has a relatively small impact. As the number of flow grids increases, the aerodynamic characteristics of the entire fusion configuration significantly improves, due to its favorable induction of airflow at the lip and tail of the duct, as well as blocking the dissipation of blade-tip vortices. Full article

High density old districts at the urban fringes of Asian megacities, such as Shenzhen, face significant thermal challenges due to dense building clusters, limited airflow, and heat retention. This study adopts an integrated approach combining Phoenics wind simulation, geographic information system (GIS) modeling, and spatial prototype analysis to assess and optimize the wind and thermal environments in these urban areas. It investigates how spatial configurations, including building density, height distribution, orientation, and green space integration, influence wind flow and thermal comfort. The results demonstrate that optimized spatial arrangements, including reduced building density, height adjustments, and strategic landscape design, improve ventilation and temperature regulation. Comparative analyses of different spatial prototypes reveal that radial configurations effectively channel external winds into the urban core, enhancing internal airflow, whereas rectangular layouts create wind shadows that hinder ventilation. Adjustments to building façades and vertical arrangements further mitigate pedestrian-level heat accumulation. Interventions in public spaces, including green roofs and vertical greening, offer cooling benefits and mitigate urban heat island effects. This study underscores the importance of aligning urban design with natural wind flow and offers a framework for sustainable landscape and architectural strategies in high-density, heat-prone environments. The findings offer valuable insights for urban planners and policymakers seeking sustainable development in similar megacities. Full article

Balancing ventilation and broadband sound insulation remains a significant challenge in noise control engineering, particularly when simultaneous airflow and broadband noise reduction are required. Conventional porous absorbers and membrane-type metamaterials remain fundamentally constrained by ventilation-blocking configurations or narrow operational bandwidths. This study presents a ventilated composite metamaterial unit (VCMU) co-integrating optimized labyrinth channels and the Helmholtz resonators within a single-plane architecture. This design achieves exceptional ventilation efficiency through a central flow channel while maintaining sub-λ/30 thickness (λ/31 at 860 Hz). Coupled transfer matrix modeling and finite-element simulations reveal that Fano–Helmholtz resonance mechanisms synergistically generate broadband transmission loss (STL) spanning 860–1634 Hz, with six STL peaks in the 860 and 1634 Hz bands (mean 18.4 dB). Experimental validation via impedance tube testing confirmed excellent agreement with theoretical and simulation results. The geometric scalability allows customizable acoustic bandgaps through parametric control. This work provides a promising solution for integrated ventilation and noise reduction, with potential applications in building ventilation systems, industrial pipelines, and other noise-sensitive environments. Full article

This study utilizes Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to optimize the aerodynamic performance of a Formula 1 (F1) car diffuser, investigating the effects of vane placements, end-flap positions, and other structural modifications. Diffusers are critical in managing airflow, enhancing downforce, and reducing drag, directly influencing vehicle stability and speed. Despite ongoing advancements, the interaction between diffuser designs and turbulent flow dynamics requires further exploration. A Three-Dimensional k-Omega-SST RANS-based CFD methodology was developed to evaluate the aerodynamic performance of various diffuser configurations using Star CCM+. The findings reveal that adding lateral vane parallel to the divergence section improved high-intensity fluid flow distribution within the main channel, achieving 13.49% increment in downforce and 5.58% reduction in drag compared to the baseline simulation. However, incorporating an airfoil cross-section flap parallel to the divergence end significantly enhances the car’s performance, leading to a substantial improvement in downforce while relatively small increase in drag force. This underscores the critical importance of precise flap positioning for optimizing aerodynamic efficiency. Additionally, the influence of adding flaps underneath the divergence section was also analyzed to manipulate boundary layer separation to achieve improved performance by producing additional downforce. This research emphasizes the critical role of vortex management in preventing flow detachment and improving diffuser efficiency. The findings offer valuable insights for potential FIA F1 2023 undertray regulation changes, with implications for faster lap times and heightened competitiveness in motorsports. Full article

The present work investigates the influence of rectangular deflectors on the performance of a Savonius turbine mounted in an L-shaped channel, which represents a geometry like that found in one oscillating water column (OWC) device. It also performs a geometric investigation of the entrance region of the channel. More precisely, it investigates the effect of the height/length ratio (H₁/L₁) of the entering region of the channel on the system performance for three different configurations: (1) without the use of deflectors, (2) with just one deflector upstream the turbine, and (3) with one deflector upstream and another downstream the turbine. The geometric investigation is performed based on the constructal design method, and the entering channel area (A₁) is the problem constraint. The performance indicators are the mechanical power in the Savonius turbine and the available power in the device. For all cases, it is considered turbulent airflow in the domain, being solved by the unsteady Reynolds Averaged Navier–Stokes mass and momentum equations. The numerical solution was obtained with the finite-volume method using the Ansys FLUENT software (version 2021 R1). The k-ω shear stress transport turbulence closure model is used. The results demonstrated that the mechanical and available powers depend on the H₁/L₁ ratio, regardless of the usage of deflectors. For instance, differences of up to 16.35% in mechanical power and 7.25% in available power were observed between the best and worst performance configurations in the case without deflectors. The use of deflectors resulted in increases of two and three times in available and mechanical powers, respectively, when the cases with one and two deflectors are compared with those without deflectors. This demonstrates that the enclosed domain and the insertion of the deflectors can enhance the performance of the Savonius turbine. Full article

This article presents an annual performance evaluation of single- and double-air-channel solar chimneys for natural ventilation induction under weather conditions in Mexico. The global energy balance method modeled both types of solar chimneys in an unsteady state. The case study evaluated five cities in Mexico. Experimental data of a single-air-channel chimney prototype evaluated under controlled conditions were used to validate the GEB numerical solution. Model validation considers climatic parameters to increase the accuracy of ventilation calculations, e.g., solar radiation, ambient temperature, wind speed, relative humidity, and atmospheric pressure. Experimental evaluation was performed considering the warmest and coldest days in each month of 2018. The modeling time to achieve the initial condition independence for each configuration was 72 h of the physical phenomenon. Results show that double-air-channel solar chimney tested configurations induced at least 70% more airflow than single-air-channel solar chimneys. Both solar chimney airflows were higher than the dwelling-unit ventilation for a space of 54 m${}^3$, and volumetric flows up to 120 m${}^3$h${}^{-1}$ were identified for two studied cities. Full article

Several researchers are very interested in mixed convection heat transfer because of how widely it is used, particularly for solar thermal collectors, cooling electronic equipment, and chemical process instruments. Using COMSOL-Multiphysics, this article establishes laminar coupled mixed convection heat transfer characteristics across a horizontal channel–cavity architecture. Investigations are conducted into the effect of heat source location on isotherms, velocity distribution, pressure, temperature, average and local Nusselt numbers, and air density. The intake airflow Reynolds number is assumed constant on 2.8814. The enclosure with an isothermally heated right wall in the shape of a “<” as a heat source in three configurations (heat source in the base (1st case), in the upper step (2nd case), and the below step (3rd case). The obtained numerical results present that the higher heat transfer is performed in case two because the heat source is near the contact surface between the channel and the cavity. With the hot sources’ locations being altered, the velocity distribution seems to be unchanged. The increase in the positive y axis has no impact on the pressure distribution throughout the channel. Changing the position of the heated source does not seem to have any impact on the pressure distribution. Air density profiles start to diverge across cases around y = 0.035 m; the third example has a larger value than the second case, and the latter case has a larger value in the density distribution than the former. The contact between the enclosure and the channel (y = 0), where the greatest Nusselt number also occurs, exhibits the highest heat transfer. The maximal Nusselt number falls as y’s absolute value rises. Full article

Fixed-wing aircraft with vertical takeoff and landing capabilities need a lower speed and a higher lift during transition. To meet these needs, a tandem-channel wing layout has been developed, including a FLR (front wing lower than rear wing) configuration and a FUR (front wing upper than rear wing) configuration, which differ in height differences between the front and rear wings. Numerical simulations have been performed to investigate the aerodynamic characteristics of the two configurations. The results show that a significant increase in lift coefficient occurs when the propeller rotational speed and the angle of attack increase. The lift at a small angle of attack increases by more than 50% at a high propeller rotational speed, and the stall angle of attack increases by more than 10 degrees. For the FLR configuration, the downwash effect of the front wing impacts the rear wing, decreasing the local angle of attack and delaying airflow separation on the top surface. For the FUR configuration, the up surface of the rear wing is induced by the wake flow of the front wing propeller at a high propeller rotational speed, which increases the lift and the stall angle of attack but makes the aircraft have static instability. Full article

This work focuses on detailed descriptions of DC discharge properties in supersonic airflow and its applicability in combustion simulations. Due to the complexity of obtaining most of the data in the experiment, our experimental research was supplemented by a numerical simulation. Two packages, i.e., FlowVision (fast commercial CFD for 3D engineering) and Plasmaero (2D scientific code developed in JIHT RAS for MHD tasks), were used for modeling the arc DC discharge in a supersonic flow at Mach (M) = 2. Both will be considered for further use in plasma-assisted combustion modeling, so it is important to validate both codes using experimental data from the model configuration with discharge. Axisymmetric geometries of experiments with two coaxial electrodes located parallel to the flow were chosen to avoid the appearance of the current channel part perpendicular to the flow and the corresponding discharge pulsations. Such geometries allow performing numerical simulations in 2D formulation, making it possible to compare the results obtained in the experiments and calculations. As a result of this work, two-dimensional distributions involving temperature, current density, chemical composition, and other discharge and flow parameters were obtained for arc DC discharges 0.5–7 A in a supersonic flow (Pst = 22 kPa, T = 170 K, V~500 m/s). Good qualitative agreement between experimental and numerical results was achieved. The production of a significant amount of atomic oxygen, which accelerates combustion, was noted. Full article