Safe velocity of on-fire train running in the tunnel

Abstract

The safety of a running train on fire in a tunnel is a key issue for rescue operations, and the train velocity is mainly related to its safety. In this study, the relationship between the wind velocity and heat release rate (HRR), temperature field around the train, and flame/smoke pervasion rule were investigated under the conditions of variable train velocity, fire location, and fire source location. Beijing Metro was considered as a typical example, in which the safe velocity was estimated to be ∼41.83kmh−1. Assuming the occurrence of fire at the center of the train, the numerical simulations of the flow field using the sliding grid of CFD were performed for a full-scale tunnel under different HRRs. When the fire source reached to the target section, the velocities of all the monitoring points rapidly increased. The velocities increased as the train tail arrived at the target section. The velocities at the measuring points increased with the increase in height, excluding the value of the position with a distance of 0.025mfrom the tunnel ceiling. The average temperature and concentration of smoke in the annular space between the train and tunnel ceiling had the minimum values when the running train on fire moved with a speed of 45kmh−1. Thus, the safe velocity of a subway train on fire should be managed between 41.83kmh−1 and 45kmh−1.