University of Alabama Reduces Energy Usage

UAB Saves $60,000 a Year with AFT FathomTM  

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., January 25, 2017 – University of Alabama at Birmingham obtained an annual energy savings of $60,000 after Bernhard TME Engineering (TME) optimized the university’s district chilled water system. The chilled water is distributed to 48 buildings on campus to supply the air conditioning systems in the hot and humid southeastern U.S.

Brandon Smith, commissioning technician, and Wei Guo, energy engineer, at TME, used AFT Fathom to create a hydraulic model of the existing system. 

Smith and Guo were able to run simulations with the chilled water plants’ pumps in several different arrangements in order to determine the most efficient way to run the plants. 

A major step to reduce overall energy cost was to determine the most hydraulically remote building and add booster pumps to that building. However, with the size of the campus and the extensiveness of the piping layout, this was no easy feat. 

Smith and Guo turned to AFT Fathom to determine which building’s control valve was most open, which indicates poor temperature control of that building. This discovery helped determine the most hydraulically remote building, to which TME added booster pumps and ran several different scenarios to find the best operating condition for the plant. By adding a booster pump to that building, the campus is able to obtain an annual savings of $60,000 a year.

“We were very impressed by how quickly AFT Fathom is able to process and calculate solutions for such a large piping network,” said Smith. “Without the speed of AFT Fathom, this type of modeling project would not have been economically feasible for the university to invest in.”

Smith and Guo submitted the University of Alabama project to AFT’s Platinum Pipe Award Contest and received the 2016 award for the Operational Benefits and Sustainability category. The award recognizes excellence in piping and ducting system modeling using AFT software. 

“The application of AFT’s system modeling software at the University of Alabama continues to demonstrate the value of system modeling and the power and versatility of our software products,” said AFT President Trey Walters, P.E. “There is much work to be done to improve the energy efficiency of installed pumping systems and to change the paradigm of how pumping systems are initially designed to reduce their environmental footprint. This application is an important step in that direction.”

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About Applied Flow Technology

Founded in 1993, Applied Flow Technology has grown to be a leader in the pipe flow modeling software market. With a primary focus on developing high quality fluid flow analysis software, AFT has a comprehensive line of products for the analysis and design of piping and ducting systems.

With channel partners around the world and customers in more than 70 countries, AFT software has helped companies in many industries design safer, more efficient systems and solve operational problems.

Located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA, our professional staff consists of engineers with extensive experience in both the design and construction of piping systems and the development of analytical modeling methods.

About Bernhard TME Engineering

Bernhard TME is a full-service energy, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection and structural engineering firm. With a staff of more than 180 individuals in 14 locations across the country, the company is comprised of expert professionals dedicated to providing clients with innovative engineering design and energy conservation.

Bernhard TME is the engineering firm within Bernhard, a group that creates value for clients through turnkey energy services designed to achieve and sustain energy cost reduction.


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