Case Study: Benchmarking Pedestrian Wind Comfort Using CFD

Case Study: Benchmarking Pedestrian Wind Comfort Using CFD

By jameslinfield@hotmail.com Comment Closed
Benchmarking pedestrian wind comfort using CFD in complex urban environments Navier is participating in BeStPLW (Benchmark Study on Pedestrian Level Winds), a UK-wide blind benchmarking exercise led by the UK Wind Engineering Society (WES) in collaboration with industry and academia. The study aims to assess how consistently pedestrian wind comfort is predicted across CFD and wind tunnel methodologies, and to help establish clearer best-practice guidance for wind microclimate assessments in the UK. Our involvement reflects Navier’s wider capability in atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) modelling, urban airflow, and external flow interaction with the built environment, with direct relevance to: Pedestrian wind comfort and safety Urban pollutant dispersion Data centre heat rejection and recirculation risk External ventilation and exhaust re-ingestion studies Background to the BeStPLW benchmark Pedestrian wind comfort assessments are now a routine requirement for major developments in the UK, particularly in dense urban environments and high-rise schemes. While guidance exists - notably the City of London Wind Microclimate Guidelines - significant variation remains in how studies are executed and...
Read More
Case Study: Aerodynamic Optimisation of Arion8 High-Speed Bike

Case Study: Aerodynamic Optimisation of Arion8 High-Speed Bike

By jameslinfield@hotmail.com Comment Closed
Competitive Aerodynamics for One of the Fastest Hand-Cycles Ever Built Client: University of Liverpool Velocipede (ULV) Team Sector: Aerodynamics / Sports Engineering Challenge The University of Liverpool Velocipede Team (ULV) embarked on Arion8, a next-generation hand-powered racing bike targeting new world records at the World Human Powered Speed Challenge (WHPSC) 2025. ULV has a proven pedigree in this category, holding the current male and female hand-cycle world speed records of 51.58 mph (83.02 km/h) and 46.54 mph (74.88 km/h) respectively, set in 2018 with their Arion4 vehicle. The project was constrained by a tightly defined external envelope to meet rider ergonomic needs, safety rules, and critical transport limitations. Given the limited time and geometry freedoms, much of the vehicle was effectively locked down by early design requirements and keep-out zones (similar to those in motorsport). The rear tail section stood out as the best remaining opportunity to reduce overall aerodynamic drag before finalising the design. Solution As both a technical sponsor and aerodynamic partner, Navier supported...
Read More
Case Study: Aerodynamic Development of Vertical Axis Wind Turbine

Case Study: Aerodynamic Development of Vertical Axis Wind Turbine

By jameslinfield@hotmail.com Comment Closed
Solving Urban Wind Energy Challenges with Validated VAWT Blade Design Client: Alpha 311 Sector: Renewable Energy / Wind Technology Challenge Alpha 311 tasked Navier with aerodynamic development of a new vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT) for their emerging product line. The goal was to maximise power output while ensuring the design remained compact, lightweight, and easy to retrofit onto existing infrastructure like lighting columns or bridges in urban environments. Key objectives included: Strong performance at low and turbulence-rich wind speeds Minimised blade size and material cost, without sacrificing output Suitable for roadside, rail-edge, and rooftop installations Alpha 311 needed a turbine that could fit almost anywhere and generate power where it’s needed most. Solution Navier led a blank-page aerodynamic development of custom blade profiles, focusing on a hybrid drag- and lift-based aerofoil concept. The process included: Parametric 2D and 3D blade modelling using CFD Iterative optimisation targeting torque output across expected wind scenarios Comparative simulations against conventional Savonius and Darrieus VAWT forms The result was a compact, high-performance blade design that achieved the power goals with a...
Read More
Case Study: Lab Stack Pollutant Dispersion Assessment

Case Study: Lab Stack Pollutant Dispersion Assessment

By jameslinfield@hotmail.com Comment Closed
CFD-Based Stack Height and Pollutant Dispersion Assessment for Design and Compliance Client: University of Derby Sector: Atmospheric Pollutant Dispersion Challenge As part of planned laboratory upgrades, the University of Derby required an assessment of the proposed fume stack configuration for B-Block. The upgrades included a significant increase in ventilation flow due to additional fume cupboards, raising concerns about whether the existing stack height would provide adequate dispersion of airborne pollutants. Key priorities included: Preventing re-ingestion of exhaust gases at nearby air intakes and windows Managing exposure risk for building users and pedestrians Demonstrating compliance with UK health-based exposure standards Solution Navier carried out a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) based atmospheric dispersion study to evaluate plume behaviour under a range of wind conditions. The simulation accounted for: Local building wake effects and site topography Buoyancy-driven dispersion and atmospheric boundary layer behaviour A range of wind directions informed by site-specific wind rose data To benchmark pollutant risk, a chemical survey was undertaken covering over 150 substances used within the laboratory. Based on hazard codes and evaporation...
Read More