Continued expansion of underground infrastructure has put ventilation requirements to the fore, as they are often the critical first step for successful introduction of operation of projects. Controlled air movement is a primary facet of management for both operating and safety issues. Both must be well understood by potential suppliers of ventilation plant in order to obtain reliable solutions. Some issues are obvious, such as reduced visibility due to solids; any significant reduction in visibility in a major road tunnel, for example, is a potential risk in terms of traffic incidence. In traffic tunnels there is also the need to control build up of potentially life-damaging toxic chemicals present due to traffic emissions.
One of the most significant growth areas is metro systems in which, with the high level of pedestrian traffic, there remains a number of parameters that have to be addressed. These include the comfort level that passengers expect to be achieved through quality ventilation and conditioning of the public spaces, including clean air. Removal of heat and dust from the vehicles themselves is a separate system requirement. A high-profile requirement is for emergency ventilation systems for smoke control. Metro systems are characterised by a complex of passageways, stairways, escalators, and vehicle and passenger access areas that combine to form an elaborate network. It is essential that ventilation equipment suppliers are able to offer advice and application support, combined with detailed, accurate product information to the designers, installers, maintainers and operators of these systems.
It can be argued that emergency fire systems are still the most prominent part of the public’s requirements. The control of hot smoke in an emergency requires high quality, proven products. The terrible destructive power of fire and smoke is evident from a number of major incidents such as the Kings Cross metro station disaster in London, and the Mont Blanc road tunnel incident in France.
The ventilation system is only one key part of any emergency control strategy, but it may offer flexible control solutions to the fire authority in the case of an incident. Most important, it can be used to assist in the safe escape of occupants, and help fire-fighters to find and then tackle the incident. Modern smoke control fans are manufactured to tolerate varying levels of temperature exposure, depending on the design of the control strategy.
The ability to work closely with designers, installers and operators cannot be demonstrated more effectively than by the Jubilee Line Extension project in London. The many design and installation challenges of the most recent addition to the world’s oldest metro brought out the very best in engineering solutions. Woods’ application experience enabled quality input into a successful installation including over 50 large Woods JM axial-flow fans.
Woods product inclusion in such diverse projects as the Lecco Tunnel in Italy (3.15m diameters fans), and the upgrading of the New York Subway (high performance 1.8m diameter axial fans), continue to demonstrate the company’s commitment and expertise in this technically demanding and competitive market. Other applications include the 38 Woods large axial fans installed, since the early 1990s, in the Sydney Harbour Tunnel.
Woods is committed to increasing its application expertise, and through both in-house research and development, and targeted research projects in leading universities world-wide.
