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Tunnel Fire Dynamics as a Function of Longitudinal Ventilation Air Oxygen Content

Author

Listed:
  • Sanjay Kumar Khattri

    (Department of Fire Safety and HSE Engineering, Glö∂ R&D, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, 5528 Haugesund, Norway)

  • Torgrim Log

    (Department of Fire Safety and HSE Engineering, Glö∂ R&D, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, 5528 Haugesund, Norway)

  • Arjen Kraaijeveld

    (Department of Fire Safety and HSE Engineering, Glö∂ R&D, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, 5528 Haugesund, Norway)

Abstract

Longitudinal ambient air ventilation is the most common methodology for maintaining an amicable environment in tunnels during normal operations while providing an evacuation path during tunnel fire emergencies. The present work investigates the influence of forced ventilation air oxygen concentrations on tunnel fire dynamics. Mixing inert gasses such as nitrogen, argon, or carbon dioxide with ambient air changes the ventilation air oxygen concentration. In order to quantify the influence of the oxygen content on the critical tunnel safety parameters, multiple computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were done on a reduced-size tunnel while preserving the system Froude number. Analytical expressions were developed to describe the importance of oxygen content on the tunnel fire dynamics. By employing Froude scaling, the resulting relations were extrapolated to real scale tunnels. For the ambient air ventilation, the extrapolated expressions displayed good agreement with experimental literature data. By adjusting the oxygen concentration, parameters such as maximum tunnel ceiling temperature, fire growth rate, maximum heat flux to the tunnel floor, maximum flux on the tunnel ceiling, and maximum heat release rate can be controlled. This is the case also for oxygen levels where people can survive. This may increase the possibility for evacuation and improve the conditions for firefighting, significantly improving tunnel fire safety.

Suggested Citation

  • Sanjay Kumar Khattri & Torgrim Log & Arjen Kraaijeveld, 2019. "Tunnel Fire Dynamics as a Function of Longitudinal Ventilation Air Oxygen Content," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-13, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:1:p:203-:d:194623
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Zheli Xing & Jinfeng Mao & Yuliang Huang & Jin Zhou & Wei Mao & Feifan Deng, 2015. "Scaled Experimental Study on Maximum Smoke Temperature along Corridors Subject to Room Fires," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(8), pages 1-23, August.
    2. Younggi Park & Youngman Lee & Junyoung Na & Hong Sun Ryou, 2019. "Numerical Study on the Effect of Tunnel Aspect Ratio on Evacuation with Unsteady Heat Release Rate Due to Fire in the Case of Two Vehicles," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-12, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Javier Menéndez & Noe Merlé & Jesús Manuel Fernández-Oro & Mónica Galdo & Laura Álvarez de Prado & Jorge Loredo & Antonio Bernardo-Sánchez, 2022. "Concentration, Propagation and Dilution of Toxic Gases in Underground Excavations under Different Ventilation Modes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-21, June.
    2. Jaroslav Vrchota & Martin Pech & Ladislav Rolínek & Jiří Bednář, 2020. "Sustainability Outcomes of Green Processes in Relation to Industry 4.0 in Manufacturing: Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-47, July.
    3. Ha Thien Khieu & Young Man Lee & Ji Tae Kim & Hong Sun Ryou, 2020. "Numerical Study of the Effects of the Jet Fan Speed, Heat Release Rate and Aspect Ratio on Smoke Movement in Tunnel Fires," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-16, March.
    4. Mateusz Zimny & Piotr Antosiewicz & Grzegorz Krajewski & Tomasz Burdzy & Adam Krasuski & Wojciech Węgrzyński, 2019. "Several Problems with Froude-Number Based Scale Modeling of Fires in Small Compartments," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-20, September.
    5. Kai Wang & Jingwei Hu & Ruiding Chen & Jianhua Wang, 2023. "A Study on the Evacuation of an Extra-Long Highway Tunnel Fire—A Case Study of Chengkai Tunnel," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-17, March.
    6. Xiaoqin Hu & Arjen Kraaijeveld & Torgrim Log, 2020. "Numerical Investigation of the Required Quantity of Inert Gas Agents in Fire Suppression Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-15, May.

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