Approximate trajectories of droplets from water mist suppression systems in tunnels

This paper presents results from a simple analysis of water mist droplet trajectories subject to tunnel airflows up to 10 m s-1. It is shown that individual droplets may be carried hundreds of metres downstream of the nozzle location before hitting the road deck under ventilation conditions that are commonplace in tunnels. Thus, if the current ventilation strategies are to be employed in the event of a fire, the zone length should be considerably longer than 50 m. An alternative strategy, in order to reduce the lengths of nozzle zone, would be to reduce the ventilation flow during emergency response. This appears to be contrary to the recommendations of PIARC. The results suggest that more experimental research into the interaction of water mist, tunnel ventilation and fire plumes is required (A). For the covering abstract of the conference se ITRD E216860.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9789185829255
• Authors:
  • REIN, G
  • CARVEL, R
  • TORERO, J L
• Publication Date: 2008

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: pp163-171
• Monograph Title: Proceedings from the Third International Symposium on Tunnel Safety and Security, Stockholm, Sweden, March 12-14 2008
• Serial:
  • SP RAPPORT
  • Issue Number: 2008:11
  • Publisher: SP Sveriges provnings- och forskningsinstitut, Sweden
  • ISSN: 0284-5172

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Calculation; Conferences; Evaluation; Fires; Mathematical models; Mist; Prevention; Tunnels; Water
• Uncontrolled Terms: Efficiency
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Security and Emergencies; I25: Design of Tunnels; I85: Safety Devices used in Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01141073
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI)
• ISBN: 978-91-85829-25-5
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Sep 30 2009 8:59AM