IMPACTS OF TERRAIN AND COASTAL WINDS ON THE DESIGN OF SAFE AND EFFICIENT LABORATORY EXHAUST SYSTEMS

Chet Wisner, Ambient Air Technologies, LLC
Danielle McGuire, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

The trajectory and dispersion of laboratory exhaust plumes are strongly affected by the winds that envelop a laboratory building and its surroundings. Neighboring buildings, terrain and the character of the fetch over which the wind travels prior to reaching the laboratory building all affect the plumes. While the effects of neighboring buildings are routinely addressed, too little attention is often given to the effects of terrain and fetch. The fetch the wind travels over can be rough like a developed suburb or smooth like over water in light winds. This determines the vertical profiles of wind speed and turbulence. Intense terrain can strongly accelerate the winds, change wind directions, and modify the vertical profiles of wind speed and turbulence. If these effects are not taken into account in wind tunnel modeling to simulate the exhaust plume dispersion, the results can be significantly inaccurate. This can be especially important for exhaust systems designed with energy-saving wind-responsive controls. Both the safety of building occupants and the performance of the wind-responsive exhaust control systems can potentially be compromised. This presentation will discuss the nature and effects of nearby steep terrain and wind fetch, and will show examples of wind tunnel studies of projects with these features. Video clips of exploratory wind tunnel testing will demonstrate the effects of terrain and fetch on the transport and dispersion of laboratory exhaust plumes. This will be done by showing the results with and without the effects of fetch and terrain being taken into account in the wind tunnel modeling. Examples from actual laboratory design projects with dramatic terrain and over-water fetches will be presented to provide an understanding of the actual real-life impacts of these features.

Biography:

Chet is the President of Ambient Air Technologies, a Colorado firm specializing in wind-tunnel modeling of lab and healthcare facilities. He has played an active role in the air quality portion of the environmental industry for over 40 years. In several recent cutting-edge studies, some of which have been reported at past Labs 21 technical sessions, Chet has used the wind tunnel to produce data supporting energy reduction initiatives which are already reaping significant economic savings for clients throughout the United States. Chet has been the Principal-in-Charge for numerous large field studies in addition to well over 100 wind tunnel studies. Chet has a B.S. from UC Berkeley in Engineering Physics, an M.S. from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Meteorology, and an M.B.A. from UCLA specializing in Management Strategy and Policy/Marketing. He is a frequent presenter at professional forums and is a member of ASHRAE, A&WMA, AMS, and other professional organizations.

Ms. McGuire is a registered architect and project manager specializing the design of laboratory and healthcare projects. Ms. McGuire holds a Master of Architecture from the Savannah College of Art and Design and a Master of Business Administration from Jacksonville University. Deeply committed to creating sustainable design Ms. McGuire's business background informs her practical approach balancing costs against benefits. Ms. McGuire led the SOM team in the design and execution of the UCSF Neurosciences Research Building, and is currently leading the team designing the new Research Building for the San Francisco Veterans Administration Medical Center. The new VA Research Building is on target to achieve LEED Gold.

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