Application of Computational Fluid Dynamics in the Optimization of Airflow through an Air-Handling Unit (OR-16-C070)

Advancements in computer technologies have made it economical for HVAC equipment manufacturers to implement computational fluid dynamics (CFD) in order to aid in the design process. The benefits of using CFD analysis include reducing the amount of time to optimize a given design, ease of identifying potential failure points in existing products, and reducing the number of laboratory experiments required. CFD offers the ability to visually characterize the airflow and heat transfer through an AHU and assess uniformity as it enters the heat exchanger. This paper presents the CFD models used to characterize the airflow uniformity in order to increase the overall heat exchanger efficiency in an AHU.