Investigating the influence of outdoor temperature variations on fire-induced smoke behavior in an atrium-type underground metro station using hybrid ventilation systems

Desheng Xu, Yanfeng Li, Tianmei Du, Hua Zhong, Youbo Huang, Lei Li and Duanmu Xiangling

Energy, 2024, vol. 287, issue C

Abstract: Underground metro systems are expanding rapidly worldwide, necessitating research on energy-efficient ventilation systems, fire safety, and smoke control. This study investigates the optimisation of hybrid mechanical-natural ventilation for smoke control in complex metro stations. Full-scale winter/summer experiments and numerical simulations examined a double-deck atrium-type station. Results demonstrate the atrium fires are more significantly impacted by outdoor temperature variations versus concourse/platform fires, with a 70 K versus 30 K temperature rise above the fire respectively. The heat of the gathered high-temperature smoke inside the atrium can reach up to 900 K under a 5 MW train fire energy release. The dimensionless Archimedes number (Ar) defines the ratio of thermal buoyancy to gravitational forces. Cold exterior winter air (Ar<1) entering via the atrium ceiling openings restricted vertical smoke diffusion, enabling enhanced lateral propagation. With rising outdoor temperatures from −20 °C to 10 °C (Ar<1), the natural smoke extraction efficiency increased from 0 to 18 %, coupled with vertical airflow velocities accelerating from −3.5 m/s to 1.5 m/s. When outdoor temperatures were between 10 °C and 40 °C (Ar>1), airflow velocity only changed slightly. Empirical models predict internal temperature profiles as a function of external meteorology. The findings provide crucial engineering insights into integrating weather data and adaptable ventilation protocols for scenario-based smoke prevention/mitigation. Further work should examine seasonal variations beyond the tested -20‒40 °C range. Overall, considering outdoor climate effects allows 30 % optimisation of hybrid ventilation systems for fire safety in underground metro stations. This study promotes technological advances in energy-efficient transport infrastructure resilience.

Keywords: Fire safety; Atrium-type underground metro station; Hybrid ventilation systems; Smoke extraction efficiency; Fire energy release (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:287:y:2024:i:c:s036054422302964x

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2023.129570

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