In Australia, cooling and heating requirements can account for up to 40% of residential
electricity use.
The design of effective cross ventilation in and around residential dwellings and
office towers can lower ambient and surface temperatures and reduce energy consumption. This in turn reduces
the impact of climate change and lessens CO² emissions.
AKL FlowDesigner can complete
fast and accurate simulations using specific locations and associated climate data for cities, towns,
suburban and rural areas throughout Australia. These simulations help to determine the extent of heating and
cooling required for all forms of development as well as the comfort of the inhabitants.
Airflow simulation used to be a complex and time-consuming task requiring deep technical
knowledge. However,
AKL FlowDesigner is a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation
software that enables wind and thermal analysis by easily importing 3D models of buildings, landscapes or
public realm areas designed in programs including SketchUp®, Autodesk Revit®, Graphisoft ArchiCAD®, and
Rhinoceros®.
Architects, designers, planners, engineers and consultants can use AKL
FlowDesigner in the early stages of the design process to understand and visualize air flow
through and around their projects. Early analysis increases design efficiencies and helps to demonstrate
compliance with statutory controls and rating systems. Dynamic and visually stunning interactive
outputs help to communicate key matters to clients, governments, decision makers and the community.
Easy to learn intuitive user interface and ability to import from BIM software such as Autodesk Revit®, SketchUp®, ArchiCAD®, etc. No programming skills required.
Simulations completed in minutes make it possible to run multiples assessments throughout the entire design process.
Visuals that not only allow you to truly understand the simulations, but also communicate the outcomes using a range of graphical techniques.
AKL FlowDesigner provides fast and accurate cross ventilation and wind simulations for all forms of exterior urban environments and internal building spaces. The software has the ability to apply materials based on their visual and thermal properties to see how proposed designs will function in terms of resultant heat, thermal comfort and required mechanical ventilation by:
AKL FlowDesigner provides a range of optional add-ons including a Solar Analysis module which can determine the thermal comfort for both the interiors and exteriors of a proposed project. The orientation, design and siting of building structures not only provides an improved environment for occupants, but it can also reduce a developments contribution to the heat island effect. This analysis can be applied to small lot designs, terraces, medium and high density dwellings not just in isolation but also as part of a subdivision or broader precinct. This analysis considers a number of factors including the following:
AKL FlowDesigner is very different from other CFD software solutions, with a rich set of features to support ease of use, while offering fast and robust analysis.
AKL (Advanced Knowledge Laboratory, Inc.) was established in Japan in 1998. Since it's release,
AKL FlowDesigner has enjoyed extensive use in a variety of Universities,
Corporations and Research Institutions across Japan. These groups specialise in architecture,
engineering and environmental studies and include the following:
