scholarly journals Numerical Study of Smoke Propagation in a Simulated Fire in a Wagon Within a Subway Tunnel

Author(s):  
Felipe Vittori ◽  
Luis Rojas-Solo´rzano ◽  
Armando J. Blanco ◽  
Rafael Urbina

This work deals with the numerical (CFD) analysis of the smoke propagation during fires within closed environments. It is evaluated the capacity of the emergency ventilation system in controlling the smoke propagation and minimizing the deadly impact of an eventual fire in a wagon within the Metro de Caracas subway tunnel on the passengers safety. For the study, it was chosen the tunnel section between Teatros and Nuevo Circo subway stations, which consists of two parallel independent twin tunnels, connected through a transverse passage. The tunnels are provided by a longitudinal ventilation system, integrated by a set of reversible fans located at both ends of the tunnels. Three stages were considered in the study: (a) Model set up; (b) Mesh sensitivity analysis; (c) Validation of the physical-numerical parameters to be used in the numerical model; and (d) Simulation of fire scenarios in Metro de Caracas subway stations. Stages (b)–(c), aimed to testing and calibrating the CFD tool (ANSYS-CFX10™), focused on reproducing experimental data from Vauquelin and Me´gret [1], who studied the smoke propagation in a fire within a 1:20 scale road tunnel. Stage (d) critical scenarios were established via a preliminary discussion with safety experts from Metro de Caracas, in order to reduce the computer memory and the number of simulations to be performed. The analyses assessed the reliability of escape routes and alternative paths for the evacuation of passengers. Additionally, the smoke front movement was particularly computed, as a function of time, in order to determine the possible presence of the “backlayering” phenomenon [5]. Results demonstrate the strengths and weaknesses of the current ventilation system in the event of a fire in the subway tunnel, and suggest new strategies to address this potentially lethal event to minimize the risks for passengers.

Author(s):  
Ti-Sheng HUANG ◽  
Nobuyoshi KAWABATA ◽  
Miho SEIKE ◽  
Masato HASEGAWA ◽  
Futoshi TANAKA ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Monica Galdo-Vega ◽  
Rafael Ballesteros-Tajadura ◽  
Carlos Santolaria-Morros

In this work, a numerical 3D simulation of a longitudinal ventilation system is developed to analyze the fire behavior inside a road tunnel. Recent disasters, like crashes in the Mont Blanc tunnel (France, 1999) or San Gottardo (Italy, 2001), have shown the need for better integral actions during possible fire incidents. The minimum delay time, required for starting the jet fans, or the evolution of the smoke patterns inside the tunnel are critical issues when rescue plans are designed. Some methods to study the smoke propagation during a fire are: pseudo-thermal scale models, full scale test and numerical models. Several contributions using the first method can be found in references [1], [2] and [3]. However it is very difficult to extrapolate the results from this kind of models. The second method (full scale test) is the most expensive of all and only two of them have been conducted recently: EUREKA Project [4] and the Memorial Tunnel Fire Ventilation Test Program [5]. The last method (numerical models) it is now under development. The objective of this work is to validate a numerical model, to predict the behavior of the smoke generated during a fire incident inside a road tunnel, comparing its results with previous experimental data collected in the Memorial Tunnel Project. In addition, a good agreement was achieved, so a methodology to predict the performance of a longitudinal ventilation system in case of fire was accurately established.


Author(s):  
Aleksander Król ◽  
Małgorzata Król

This paper presents the results of hot smoke tests, conducted in a real road tunnel. The tunnel is located within the expressway S69 in southern Poland between cities Żywiec and Zwardoń. Its common name is Laliki tunnel. It is a bi-directional non-urban tunnel. The length of the tunnel is 678 m and it is inclined by 4%. It is equipped with the longitudinal ventilation system. Two hot smoke tests have been carried out according to Australian Standard AS 4391-1999. Hot smoke tests corresponded to a HRR (Heat Release Rate) equal to respectively 750 kW and 1500 kW. The fire source was located in the middle of the road lane imitating an initial phase of a car fire (respectively 150 m and 265 m from S portal). The temperature distribution was recorded during both tests using a set of fourteen thermocouples mounted at two stand poles located at the main axis of the tunnel on windward. The stand poles were placed at distances of 5 m and 10 m. The recorded data were applied to validate of a numerical model built and solved using Ansys Fluent. The calculated temperature distribution matched the measured values.


2013 ◽  
Vol 639-640 ◽  
pp. 665-669 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhen Tan ◽  
Zhi Yi Huang ◽  
Ke Wu ◽  
Lei Ting Xu

Speed control of longitudinal ventilation systems in road tunnels is being combined with typical model predictive control (MPC) strategies which may bring huge energy saving potential to the system. Theoretical analysis of the inertia effect is presented based on the energy equation of one dimensional incompressible unsteady flow, step response model is chosen to describe the dynamic behaviors of the system. The results show that the effect of jet speed change on CO concentration is nonlinear within fan’s economical working range and the settling time of CO level has similar change trend with that of the flow field but is a little longer. The system settling time is longer when jet speed decreases than it increases and is related to the change extent of jet speed. The effect of traffic intensity on CO concentration can be regarded as linear disturbance to the system output. These results may provide useful indexes to control the tunnel ventilation system more economically and lay foundation for the application of predictive control strategy in the system.


Author(s):  
W. K. Chow ◽  
N. Cai ◽  
Y. Gao

The characteristics of flame rotation induced by a fire at the top of kitchen stove were studied numerically with Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Four cases with different locations of fire sources and vents were set up; simulations of swirling air flow and temperature distributions in the kitchen room were carried out. Ventilation by ceiling vents was identified as the necessary condition for internal fire whirl. Recommendations on the design of kitchen ventilation system were made.


2012 ◽  
Vol 433-440 ◽  
pp. 983-991 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mozhdeh Shoaei ◽  
R. Maddahin ◽  
H. Afshin ◽  
B. Farhanie

Development of cities as well as population growth causes to development of public transportation especially subway lines. The high capacity besides the high speed in transportation makes them the popular transportation system. Fire is the one of the most important issues that may occur in subways. The difference in flame size, emissionheat, smoke and pollutants generation of subway fires attracts an especial attention of fire investigators. The emergency ventilation of subways in the case of fire should have the ability of discharging heat, smoke and pollutants from passenger escape route and preparing a safe place for a specific duration. The optimal performance of emergency ventilation system has a close relation with fire scenarios. In this research the fire scenarios of Tehran subway are designed based on regional approach. In order to show the performance of ventilation systems in emergency mode, the fire scenarios are simulated using computational fluid dynamics. Simulations are conducted for steady and unsteady modes. In transient simulations, a fast t2 growth curve is used for the heat and smoke release rate. Simulation results show that new regional scenarios could provide safe escape routes to evacuate passengers during the fire.


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