The Study on Changes of Exhaust Efficiency and Fine Particle Concentration at a Ventilation Opening by a Air Curtain Flow in a Subway Model Tunnel

In this study, a new tunnel ventilation method with a high velocity air curtain flow has been investigated for improving the ventilation exhaust efficiency and removing air pollutants in subway tunnels. At upper or lower position right downstream of a main duct connected with a ventilation opening, air curtain flows were suppled into the main duct where the air flow velocity was in the range of 2 similar to 6 m/s. Exhaust efficiency was monitored for both cases with and without air curtain flow for different air velocities, locations and injection angles of the air curtain. Particulate matter concentrations (PM10, PM2.5 and PM1.0) were also checked at both the main duct and ventilation opening before and after supplying air curtain flows. Lower air velocity of the main duct flow, higher air velocity of the air curtain led to higher exhaust efficiency and the air curtain condition of 30 degrees inclined injection toward the main flow showed the maximum exhaust efficiency. The exhaust efficiency of about 24% without the air curtain could be improved to about 34% after using the air curtain flow. PM concentration decreased at the main duct and increased at the ventilation opening after using the air curtain flow. Therefore, the suggested method to use air curtain flows in tunnels will be probably one of the promising tools to reduce air pollutants in subway tunnels.