Investigation of temperature field variations induced by the air thermodynamic behavior when trains pass through a high-speed railway tunnel in cold regions

Abstract

High-speed railway tunnels in the cold region, whose numbers are increasing, are widely exposed to the threat of frost damage caused by extremely negative temperatures. The operation of high-speed trains has made this problem even more pronounced. But there are fewer studies focusing on the dynamic changes in temperature during train operation. In this paper, the air thermodynamic behavior of trains passing through a tunnel and its consequences were investigated with the help of the CFD method. In numerical simulations, conditions of different natural airflows, different train speeds, different blockage ratios, as well as two trains intersecting in the tunnel were involved. The following valuable results were obtained. In cold environments, train-induced pressure wave effects will affect the air thermodynamic behavior, but the overall trend in air temperature is mainly influenced by the heat transfer between cold and warm air. The high-speed train will lead to massive cold air being carried into the tunnel and some warm air inside being pushed out. Heat transfer between cold and warm air will cause a significant decrease in tunnel air temperature. This air thermodynamic behavior is particularly prominent in the case of large blockage ratios. When there are same-direction natural airflows, they will be coupled with train-induced airflows, causing a greater decrease in tunnel air temperature. In contrast, opposite-direction natural airflows can reduce the negative effects of the train. Taking the case of opposite-direction natural airflow velocity of 5 m/s as an example, the temperature changes of the three cross-sections are only 16.7 %, 14.8 %, and 42.1 % of those in the case of no natural airflow. Whatever the direction of natural airflows, coupling effects between them and train-induced airflows will be more significant as the natural airflow speed increases. Greater train speed means more cold air entering the tunnel and stronger heat transfer between cold and warm air, causing a more significant temperature decrease. When two trains intersect through the tunnel, airflows caused by them will be coupled. As a result, only a little air enters the tunnel from the entrance and exit, and the heat transfer between air with different temperatures is weak. In this case, the air temperature doesn't decrease but slightly increases as the air is compressed.