A Study on Ceiling Temperature Distribution and Critical Exhaust Volumetric Flow Rate in a Long-Distance Subway Tunnel Fire with a Two-Point Extraction Ventilation System

Abstract

Smoke control is a crucial issue in a long-distance subway tunnel fire, and a two-point extraction ventilation system is an effective way to solve this problem, due to the characteristics of controlling the smoke in a limited area and removing high-temperature and toxic smoke in time. In this study, the ceiling temperature distribution and the critical exhaust volumetric flow rate to control the smoke in the zone between two extraction vents were investigated in a long-distance subway tunnel fire with a two-point extraction ventilation system. Experiments were carried out in a 1/20 reduced-scale tunnel model based on Froude modeling. Factors, including the heat release rate (HRR), the extraction vent length, the internal distance between two extraction vents and exhaust volumetric flow rate, were studied. Smoke temperature below the ceiling, exhaust volumetric flow rate and smoke spreading configurations were measured. The ceiling temperature distribution was analyzed. Meanwhile, an empirical equation was developed to predict the critical exhaust volumetric flow rate based on the one-dimensional theory, experimental phenomenon and the analysis of forces acting at the smoke underneath the extraction vent. The coefficients in the empirical equation were determined by experimental data. Compared with the experimental results, the developed empirical equation can predict the critical exhaust volumetric flow rate well. Research outcomes in this study will be beneficial to the design and application of two-point extraction ventilation system for a long-distance subway tunnel fire.