Conference Paper

Proceedings of Building Simulation 2011: 12th Conference of IBPSA

Optimizing the Length of Air Supply Duct in Cross Connections of Gotthard Base Tunnel

Rehan Yousaf, Oliver Scherer

DOI: https://doi.org/10.26868/25222708.2011.1241
Abstract: “Gotthard Base Tunnel” with its 57 km long twin tracks is going to be the world’s longest train tunnel. The two tracks are connected to each other by means of 178 cross connections provided at regular intervals along the length of the tunnel. These cross connections are primarily used as technical rooms with operation relevant electronic devices installed in them. Additionally, these cross connections can be used as emergency exits from one tube to the other. All of these cross connection rooms are installed with mechanical ventilation systems in order to assure the air temperature limits for the optimal working of the installed electronic devices. The main focus of this paper is to show the application of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) in reducing the total cost of the ventilation system by optimizing the length of air supply ducts provided in the cross connections. The results show that the length of the air supply ducts can be reduced from 28 m to 24 m in each of the cross connection without any noticeable operational compromise for the installed devices in terms of air temperature. The cost involved on the other hand reduced by almost 0.5 Million Swiss Francs.
Pages: 436 - 441
Paper: