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Qualifying Your Laboratory Design Using Virtual Reality
Methods Before Construction
Scott D. Reynolds, MS, PE, CAES,
a Division of Bearsch Compeau Knudson A/E
Robert H. Morris, Flowsafe
Laboratories can present a special challenge to building designers
because fume hoods may exhibit good containment at the factory but
then subsequently fail field challenges when installed in the laboratory.
In an effort to avoid these types of problems while designing new
labs that are both safe and green, engineers and architects are
now heavily relying on advanced design tools. One engineering tool
that has surfaced as an accurate preemptive tool to avoid these
costly failures is Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD).
The present method of designing laboratories is frequently divided
into two phases: The first phase involves the initial design and
subsequent construction using conventional wisdom, professional
experience and various engineering guidelines. The second phase
all too often involves a redesign of the first phase to correct
problems that arise from poor hood containment or unexpected interactions
of the hoods with their environment. In the past, engineers would
rely on full scale mockups to provide insight of how their design
would perform in the "real world." This method went by
the wayside primarily because of the intense cost involved in constructing
a temporary facility.
CFD has emerged as an attractive and cost effective alternative
to mockups and can be a critical factor in achieving the goals of
green buildings. Strictly a software approach, CFD allows the designer
to perform "virtual" challenges of a lab using scenarios
that are difficult or impossible to do with conventional physical
tests. These include concurrent "virtual" near and far-field
tracer gas tests and evaluations of multiple fume hoods simultaneously.
CFD can also evaluate the effects of diffuser locations in labs,
the effects of changing lab furniture, the negative effects of improper
hood loading and the effects that several hoods have on each other.
To demonstrate the value of CFD, several case studies will used
to reveal the effectiveness of various lab equipment where the results
are benchmarked against actual field data.
Findings:
This presentation will teach (1) some insights on what dictates
a good design or a poor design, (2) methods to virtually challenge
lab designs containing fume hoods, (3) the benefits of using CFD
to assess lab design before construction, and, (4) a validation
of numerical techniques by comparing to conventional tracer gas
testing.
Labs21 Connection:
- Minimize overall environmental impacts.
- Protect occupant safety.
- Optimize whole building efficiency on a life-cycle basis.
- Promote energy and water efficiency efforts.
- Pursue advanced, energy-efficient HVAC technologies.
- Reduce emissions, streamline energy and water usage, and decrease
overall costs-all while preserving the integrity of the laboratory's
mission.
This presentation deals with the ventilation design of labs (particularly
those with fume hoods) where the primary focus is on the health
and safety of the people who use them. The topics included will
touch on how labs will often fail chemical containment requirements
after construction and how to avoid those problems while still in
the design phase. We will introduce numerical methods (CFD) to demonstrate
how a particular design may be simultaneously optimized for safety
and performance and also offer a reduction in the amount of testing
required to certify or qualify the lab. As a validation of the CFD
technique, we will also introduce comparisons with conventional
tracer gas testing. This presentation is geared toward all professionals
who have a stake in designing labs correctly the first time.
Biographies:
Scott D. Reynolds, MS, PE, has a BS in Mechanical and Industrial
Engineering from Clarkson University, an MS in Mechanical and Aerospace
Engineering from the University of Rochester, and is a registered
professional engineer in the States of New York and New Jersey.
He has worked for General Electric, Xerox and IBM before founding
CAES in 1992, an engineering consulting firm specializing in numerical
analysis using CFD and FEA methods. CAES became a division of Bearsch
Compeau Knudson Architects and Engineers, PC in 1999. Scott has
over 20 years experience in the engineering field.
Mr. Reynolds is currently involved in the use of Computational
Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to predict air currents, the transport of airborne
contamination, temperature stratification and particulate movement
on both the inside and outside of buildings. The particular focus
of his work applies CFD to understanding airflow in research facilities,
labs, fume hoods, electronics enclosures and in the wind wakes around
buildings. He has completed analyses on nearly 200 animal holding
rooms for medical and pharmaceutical research as well as many studies
of chemical labs and various designs of fume hoods. Scott has presented
nearly 30 seminars, workshops, poster sessions and university level
classes on the application of CFD on buildings and equipment. He
has also published 15 trade journal or magazine articles and holds
8 US patents.
Robert H. Morris, has over 36 years experience divided almost
equally between Chemical Process system design, Robotic/Automation
Machine Control Design, and HVAC system design. More than 19 patents
have been awarded to Mr. Morris for design of components which cover
the field of air flow, fume hood control, fume hood design, actuators
and valve/dampers.
Mr. Morris is considered one of the pioneers in Indoor Air Quality
with articles published as early as 1982, making his fellow professionals
aware of the project. While working with Air Monitor Corporation
as Manager of Engineering and Systems Applications, with his background
of industrial controls, Mr. Morris realized that the HVAC ventilation
applications as presently designed and installed affected the health
and safety of individuals exposed to these environments by their
presence.
Mr. Morris developed the High Performance Bi-Stable Vortex Fume
Hood and he gave the design to the fume hood industry. This hood
dramatically improves fume hood performance in both, safety and
energy consumption.
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