Transportation Emissions Modelling - Synergetics Consulting Engineers

Transportation is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and urban pollution, representing approximately 17% of Australia’s GHG emissions [1], and 72% of the carbon monoxide emissions in Melbourne [2]. Air pollution impacts in China have been estimated at 1.3M excess deaths per annum with associated economic costs of $US1.3trillion per annum [3]. Any optimisation of transportation systems, whether by improved efficiency or better dispersion of exhaust fumes, has the potential to result in significant health, economic, comfort and environmental benefits.

A simulation of train emissions in a tunnel. The trains emissions begin at the engine stack, and travel along the length of the train.

Figure 1: Synergetics have experience using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to model vehicle emissions. This figure shows pathlines and contours coloured by concentration for diesel train emissions in a railway tunnel.
Synergetics has a strong history of transportation works including:

- modelling haze, pollutant emissions and ventilation in tunnels to reduce potential health impacts and GHG emissions;
- modelling emissions to the atmosphere from tunnel portals to reduce community impacts;
- filtration system design for tunnels;
- airport wind modelling to quantify and minimise risks to aircraft;
- design optimisation of novel aerospace vehicles to achieve performance targets;
- modelling pollution dispersion in street canyons to quantify health impacts;
- marine vehicle design validation and optimisation through multiphase flow modelling;
- optimisation and modelling of diesel locomotive heat exchangers;
- analysis of energy efficiency and carbon saving options for train networks; and
- designing an innovative, award winning, ventilation system to improve safety when painting trains.