Construction Services
Air quality and comfort in buildings
Building services engineers are often asked for reassurance that their HVAC designs will
work as intended when put into practice. Atkinson Science can build a computational fluid
dynamics (CFD) model of the occupied space (office, lecture theatre, clean room, etc.) and
calculate the distributions of air speed, temperature, humidity and contaminants throughout
the space, given the volume flows, heating, humidification, inlets, extracts, etc. specified
by the engineer. If necessary, we can suggest changes to the HVAC design to ensure that the
internal environment meets the client’s requirements.
Read more.
Pollutant dispersion
Pollutants discharged from stacks must not be allowed to reach buildings or the ground in
concentrations that are unsafe. Atkinson Science can create a CFD model showing the trajectory
and rate of dispersion of fumes from stacks under different wind conditions so that the
building operator can make sensible decisions on the concentrations of pollutants that can be
released into the atmosphere without risk to health. Our CFD models include the internal
details of individual stacks so that the profile of flow speed at exit from the stack is
captured exactly and the simulations achieve the highest possible level of accuracy.
Read more.
Infiltration
Infiltration in a leaky building can overwhelm a well-designed air-conditioning system, causing
discomfort in occupied spaces or damage to perishable goods. Even in a well-sealed building,
infiltration can be significant because of the stack effect if the leakage flows are
concentrated along the roof and floor lines. Atkinson Science can create CFD models that
simulate the effect of infiltration on the temperature and humidity in an occupied space or
warehouse. We investigate the effect of infiltration routinely whenever we simulate the
environment created by an HVAC system. Read more.
Risk assessments for surface and interstitial condensation
Buildings with high humidity levels (swimming pools, laundries, canteens, kitchens, etc.) are
at risk from surface condensation and interstitial condensation (condensation inside the
building fabric). Atkinson Science provides risk assessments for surface and interstitial
condensation based on computer simulations of heat and vapour diffusion through the building
envelope in compliance with BS5250:2011. We can also use the simulation model to propose
remedial measures where necessary. Read more.
Custom software tools
Building services engineers use a wide range of computational tools to help them balance the
competing demands of air quality, reliability, sustainability and cost-effectiveness. Often
innovations in HVAC technology outstrip the availability of suitable computational tools.
Atkinson Science can provide custom software tools incorporating the latest building services
research. Alternatively, we can create software tools that speed up routine but time-consuming
tasks. Read more.
Atkinson Science has a range of free-to-use web tools that you can use now – you don’t need to
register. Use web tools.
Design and analysis of HVAC equipment
Building services engineers often have to choose between a wide range of diffusers, chilled
beams and other HVAC equipment to achieve near-perfect mixed-flow or displacement ventilation
in complex occupied spaces containing a variety of heating loads. Atkinson Science can quickly
create CFD models of air-flow equipment to check throw and rate of dispersion. We create these
models routinely when we build CFD models of occupied spaces. We also create models of complex
stacks when we build our pollutant dispersion CFD models. Do you need design or analysis of
HVAC equipment? Read more.