Split Air Cabin Ventilation for Tunnel Inclined Shafts
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Solution Overview
Problem
In tunnel construction, the traditional fan-wind pipe forced air supply method results in low overall utilization efficiency of fans, significant loss of air energy, and high construction costs due to uneven excavating distances and turbulent air flows at the intersection of inclined shafts and main tunnels, leading to poor ventilation and health risks for operators.
Innovation Solution
A split air cabin ventilation system comprising two independent air cabins and a split air cabin with connected fans and air sources, an air curtain, and throttle valves, which adjusts air supply to meet the needs of both tunnel faces and reduces ventilation resistance and energy consumption by using a split complementary ventilation method and air curtain to guide return air flows.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a traditional fan-wind pipe forced air supply method is adopted, then the ventilation can be provided to tunnel faces, but the overall utilization efficiency of fans is low and air energy is significantly lost due to uneven excavating distances
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation system is divided into independent ventilation units for each tunnel face, with separate fans and air cabins. This allows each fan to operate independently according to the actual ventilation needs of each face, avoiding the energy waste of running one fan at full capacity to serve both faces when their distances differ significantly.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs adjustable air inlet and outlet ports on the air cabins, allowing the ventilation parameters to be dynamically adjusted according to the varying excavation distances and ventilation requirements of different tunnel faces, optimizing energy utilization under different operating conditions.
2Productivity
If a traditional fan-wind pipe forced air supply method is adopted, then ventilation can be provided to tunnel faces, but construction costs increase due to the need for relay fans
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the ventilation system into independent units with localized fans and air cabins for each tunnel face, the system eliminates the need for relay fans to extend ventilation coverage over long distances, thereby reducing equipment costs and simplifying the ventilation network configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The air cabin structure provides three-dimensional air distribution with multiple air inlet and outlet ports, enabling effective ventilation coverage without requiring additional relay fans to extend the ventilation distance linearly, thus reducing system complexity and cost.
3Ease of operation
If return air from two tunnel faces gathers at the intersection without guiding devices, then air flow convergence occurs, but turbulent flow causes velocity decrease and particle suspension
Solution Approach 1:
Air curtains are introduced as intermediary devices at the intersection of tunnel faces. These air curtains create directed air flows that guide the converging return air smoothly, preventing turbulent mixing and particle suspension while maintaining effective air flow convergence for ventilation efficiency.
4Productivity
If the first air outlet end of the first air cabin is arranged away from the second air outlet end, then independent air supply to both tunnel faces is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air cabin is divided into separate sections with independent air inlet and outlet ports for each tunnel face. This segmentation enables independent ventilation control for each face while using a single integrated air cabin structure, achieving functional independence without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively shortens ventilation distances, improves fan utilization efficiency, reduces energy consumption and operating costs, and enhances the construction environment by isolating return air flows and reducing dust concentration through dynamic air distribution and air curtain guidance.
Implementation Method 1
an air curtain, and throttle valves, which adjusts air supply to meet the needs of both tunnel faces and reduces ventilation resistance and energy consumption by using a split complementary ventilation method and air curtain to guide return air flows
Data Source
AI summary
A split air cabin ventilation system for construction of tunnel inclined shafts, including a first air cabin and a second air cabin which are both in a hollow closed structure with an air inlet end and an air outlet end respectively at both sides. The two air outlet ends are arranged away from each other. An end of the split air cabin is provided with an air inlet, and the other end is provided with an air outlet. The air inlet is connected to an air source, and the air outlet is connected to the air inlet ends of the first and second air cabins, respectively. The air inlet end of the first air cabin is connected to another air source.