TUNNEL VENTILATION SYSTEMS

VENT SHAFTS
• Trains running in a subway system can be viewed as moving
heat sources, is generated by the train braking systems. and
passengers on board the trains also produce heat. However,
however the train movement also drives air inside the tunnels,
stations and vent shafts, i.e. the piston effect.
• Trains usually move through a system stopping at stations as
scheduled (normal mode). For various reasons trains may come
to a halt inside the tunnel (congested mode). It is also possible
that a train will catch fire and become stranded within the
system (emergency mode)
• The ventilation system must provide an acceptable
environment in terms of both temperature and air quality
during normal mode. This can often be achieved through the
use of appropriately sized and located blast shafts, which
allow the train piston effect to ventilate the tunnels and stations.
In warm environments, mechanical cooling systems may be
necessary. Fig 1 - End of station ventilation fans with independent blast shafts
• The system must also be capable of providing fresh air to a
stranded train during congested mode and control smoke • A typical ventilation arrangement for two stations and a section of tunnel
movement to provide a safe evacuation route during emergency within a larger system is shown in figure 1.
mode. Fan plants, usually located within stations, are necessary • This arrangement shows the blast shafts integrated with the mechanical
to provide the airflow rates required for this. ventilation system via a by-pass system with dampers. During normal
operation, the fans will be off and natural ventilation will take place via the
by-pass dampers to relieve the train-induced piston effect.
Tunnel Booster Fans (JET FANS)
• Tunnel ventilation fans, normally used during congested and
emergency modes, can also replace the fans for UPE/OTE.
• If this integrated fan plant design is chosen, the tunnel ventilation
shafts should be inclined away from the station box towards the
tunnel, so as to improve the proportion of air entering the incident
tunnel, and thus minimize the fan plant room size.
• Jet fans are essentially longitudinal thrust devices, normally
installed on tunnel ceilings, walls or corners.
• A large quantity of air is drawn into one end and a jet of confined
high velocity air is blasted out of the other. The imparted
momentum then moves a greater mass of air through the tunnel.
• In a system without jet fans (figure 5) air will take the path of least
resistance and flow primarily to the open station box or non-
incident tunnels. Jet fans can be utilized to counteract this effect
and can also help pressurize escape routes during an emergency.
• The benefits that can be gained by using jet fans are shown in
figure 6. The percentage of effective flow into the incident tunnel
for a given fan plant flow has been plotted against number of jet
fans (nominal thrust of 700N each) operating in that tunnel
section.
• These fans are capable of moving large amounts of air through
both tunnels and stations and could remove more heat than
passive ventilation.
Dubai Metro Station
Architect: Aedas

• Platform Exhaust (UPE)

• Over Track Exhaust (OTE)
An ideal ventilation and space environment for subway stations.
• Extracting high-grade heat at source is the most efficient
way of preventing train heat loads from entering the
station environment. Depending on the exact location of a
car braking system and/or onboard air-conditioning units,
this can be achieved by mechanical extract via an Under
Platform Exhaust (UPE) or an Over Track Exhaust (OTE)
system (figure 4).
• The OTE is also necessary for removing smoke at
platform ceiling, above the train, and that is what
normally drives the size of the OTE ducts.
• If air conditioning is used, it is usually beneficial to ensure
that the station remains at neutral or slightly positive
pressure. Hence the extract airflow must be balanced
with fresh supply air from outside to reduce infiltration
from the tunnel environment.
• Outside air is needed to control temperatures within a
Typical under platform and over track exhaust and supply system in stations
subway system, to provide patrons with fresh air to
breathe and, in an emergency, control the flow of smoke
and allow the safe escape of passengers.