The influence of ventilation parameters on dust pollution in a tunnel's environment using the CFD method

Abstract

A shield tunneling boring machine produces a large amount of dust during the excavation process. However, the existing ventilation and dust control techniques can only control part of the dust created. If the dust is not controlled effectively, it can pollute a tunnel's working environment and have a serious impact on the health of construction workers. In this paper, the numerical simulation method is combined with field measurements to study the dust pollution diffusion law in a tunnel under different air suction volumes and where the suction ports are located at different distances from the cutter face. First, the diffusion law of dust pollution is simulated for different air suction volumes in a tunnel. Subsequently, the optimal air suction volume is used to further study the dust pollution in a tunnel under different suction port positions, and it is found that it is possible to control the dust created in a construction tunnel completely. The research results are then applied to the actual production process of construction tunnels, where the field measurements confirm that the diffusion of dust pollution is controlled completely during this process.