Tunnel Ventilation System With Fire-Resistant Flaps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tunnel ventilation systems fail to efficiently remove contaminated gas and extinguish fires in long tunnels without spreading smoke to unaffected areas, as they cannot maintain a stationary air flow in fire zones, leading to inadequate fire protection and rescue access.
Innovation Solution
A tunnel ventilation system with three separate ducts above a horizontal partition, equipped with fire-resistant flaps and fans, which create a stationary air flow to confine fires and prevent smoke spread, using reduced oxygen air for extinguishing and incorporating a computer-controlled monitoring system for optimal energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional ventilation systems are used in long tunnels, then contaminated air can be removed, but smoke spreads to unaffected areas during fire and fresh air continues to feed the fire
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation system is divided into multiple independent sections along the tunnel length, with each section having its own controllable flaps and ventilation ducts. During fire, the system segments the tunnel by closing flaps to isolate the fire zone, preventing smoke spread to unaffected areas while maintaining targeted ventilation and fire suppression in the affected section.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamically controllable flaps that can adjust their position based on fire detection and location. The flaps transition from an open state during normal operation to a closed state during fire to isolate zones, enabling the system to adapt its configuration in real-time to prevent smoke spread while maintaining fire suppression effectiveness.
2Ease of operation
If fresh air is supplied to the tunnel during fire, then occupants can escape and firefighters can access the area, but the fresh air feeds the fire and intensifies combustion
Solution Approach 1:
The tunnel is divided into isolated sections using controllable flaps. During fire, the system closes flaps to create a sealed fire zone that prevents fresh air from reaching the fire while maintaining separate escape routes for occupants and access paths for firefighters through unaffected sections.
Solution Approach 2:
The ventilation system provides localized air supply control, delivering fresh air specifically to escape routes and firefighter access areas while preventing air supply to the fire zone. This selective air distribution maintains rescue operations without intensifying combustion.
3Ease of manufacture
If ventilation ducts use standard shutters, then the system is simpler to construct, but the shutters do not provide perfect sealing allowing air leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The flaps are pre-installed in the ventilation ducts during construction, positioned to provide perfect sealing when closed. This preliminary placement ensures that when fire occurs and the flaps need to close for isolation, they are already in position and properly configured to prevent air leakage, eliminating the need for complex adjustments during emergency response.
4Ease of repair
If the ventilation unit is installed away from the tunnel portal, then it is easier to service the unit, but servicing requires interference with current traffic
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation unit is positioned in a spatial location that provides access from the side or above the tunnel rather than requiring access from within the tunnel roadway. This dimensional relocation allows maintenance personnel to service the unit without entering the traffic flow, eliminating the conflict between maintenance activities and current traffic.
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
Ensures effective removal of contaminated air and smoke, confines fires to a specific area, allows safe escape routes, and facilitates rescue operations by maintaining a stationary air flow and controlled air supply, while minimizing energy consumption and pollution.
Implementation Method 1
The Invention solves these technical problems by providing a stationary air flow in the tunnel applying a ventilation system
Implementation Method 2
Simultaneous with fire signalling and detection of the exact position of fire, air with reduced oxygen content is introduced into the fire section, whereby fire extinguishing takes place
Implementation Method 3
through the flaps smoke is directly carried away via lateral and, if needed, middle ducts
Implementation Method 4
Due to continuous discharge of contaminated air from the tunnel, the ventilation and ventilation control equipment ensures in both normal operation and fire conditions minimum pollution of the tunnel's walls and ceiling
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Tunnel ventilation system providing a horizontal partition (1) divided into three separate ventilation ducts (4) and (5) with fire-resistant flaps which in an emergency hermetically close the ventilation ducts. Their position is controlled in dependence on measured parameters in the tunnel and whether or not there is fire in the tunnel and, if there is, the position of fire. Fans (3, 3a) are operated in dependence on conditions prevailing in the tunnel. An air screen (6a) prevents the influx of air in excess of the designed quantity from the environment into the tunnel. The system incorporates a tube -shaped tank ( 9 ) positioned longitudinally under the carriageway that contains air with reduced oxygen content in quantity sufficient for fire fighting. In the event of fire, air with reduced oxygen content is brought into the space of the tunnel's fire section.