Technology Category
- Analytics & Modeling - Predictive Analytics
- Sensors - Environmental Sensors
Applicable Industries
- Construction & Infrastructure
- Transportation
Applicable Functions
- Maintenance
- Product Research & Development
Use Cases
- Movement Prediction
- Onsite Human Safety Management
About The Customer
Hatch Mott MacDonald (HMM) is a leading North American consulting engineering firm with a century of worldwide experience. They have been at the forefront of subway ventilation since the 1920s, developing leading-edge skills in ventilation, aerodynamics, and cooling; smoke modeling, prediction, and removal; fire safety and evacuation and emergency response planning. Their experience has been gained through design, construction, and maintenance projects worldwide. One of their specialist areas is the prediction of fire and smoke movement using ANSYS CFX software to develop and apply three-dimensional simulation models.
The Challenge
Hatch Mott MacDonald (HMM), a leading North American consulting engineering firm, specializes in the design of underground ventilation systems. One of their key areas of expertise is the prediction of fire and smoke movement in these systems. The challenge they faced was the comprehensive modeling and design analyses for existing tunnels and transportation facilities from a fire/life safety and ventilation perspective. The objectives were to provide good environmental conditions for users during normal operation and safe conditions for evacuation in emergency modes. Fire and smoke modeling required a consideration of turbulent, buoyant, chemically reacting flows and a need to assess tenability conditions, based on visibility, temperature, and toxicity. However, physical measurements in such large structures rarely led to an understanding of the subtle thermal mechanisms that control the environment.
The Solution
To overcome the challenge, HMM turned to ANSYS CFX software. The software allowed their specialists to develop and apply three-dimensional simulation models to predict air movement due to normal ventilation conditions and smoke/chemical behavior in emergency scenarios. This modeling yielded an understanding of such dynamic situations which led to the design of optimal operation and safety systems for underground infrastructure and facilities. The predictive capability of ANSYS CFX was confirmed through comparison with detailed fire experiments and selected measurements in operational facilities. The software provided an ideal platform for the development of fire and smoke models, and enabled assessment of design changes that lead to higher levels of safety and improved conditions for normal operation.
Operational Impact
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