Project 08 / Equipment cooling · Thermal management

Bedford Substation Room Ventilation Assessment CFD Study

A constrained relief-air arrangement verified at peak transformer heat load.

Location: 16–30 Prospect Street, Kangaroo Point, QLD
Project context: Mixed-use tower · Energex interface · Engineering consultant: Confidential

The Bedford tower exterior

Headline result+1.5 °C relief-air rise

Verified30.9 kW heat load

Verified2.66 m³/s airflow

Verified≈ 623k cells

The study

Thermal performance proven despite a non-preferred air path.

Challenge

Spatial constraints prevented the Energex-preferred opposed inlet and relief arrangement, raising concerns around transformer cooling, stratification and recirculation.

Method

A multi-zone k–ω SST model connected the substation, fan room, ductwork, basement driveway and louver interfaces under a 30 °C ambient condition.

Outcome

Heat removal remained effective, velocities stayed below the 1.5 m/s limit and only minor, non-critical high-level warm pockets were observed.

Project library

Simulation views and result contours.

8 project visuals, including verified simulation outputs

Substation temperature volume rendering for the bedford substation thermal CFD study — 01Substation temperature volume rendering

Alternative intake temperature rendering for the bedford substation thermal CFD study — 02Alternative intake temperature rendering

Temperature at driveway intake for the bedford substation thermal CFD study — 03Temperature at driveway intake

Temperature at 1500 mm for the bedford substation thermal CFD study — 04Temperature at 1500 mm

Velocity at 1500 mm for the bedford substation thermal CFD study — 05Velocity at 1500 mm

Alternative intake velocity contour for the bedford substation thermal CFD study — 06Alternative intake velocity contour

The Bedford tower exterior render — 07The Bedford tower exterior Source: Mosaic Property Group

The Bedford interior entry render — 08The Bedford interior Source: Mosaic Property Group