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Subway Ventilation System: design and requirements
A well-designed subway ventilation system is essential to maintain air quality, ensure passenger comfort, and comply with safety regulations. Proper ventilation prevents the accumulation of pollutants, regulates temperature, and provides a controlled airflow in case of fire or emergency. This insight explores the fundamental aspects of subway ventilation, including system types, safety requirements, energy efficiency, and maintenance strategies.
Table of contents:
- Importance of the ventilation system
- Characteristics of subway environment and ventilation requirements
- CBI Group solution for subway ventilation
- Maintenance and management of subway ventilation engineering
Importance of the ventilation system
An effective subway ventilation system is crucial for maintaining air quality and ensuring a safe environment for passengers and workers. It removes heat and humidity generated by trains, passengers, and electrical equipment. It controls air pollutants, including carbon dioxide found in the car, and maintains oxygen levels, thus ensuring passenger respiratory health.
It maintains a safe evacuation route in case of fire by directing smoke away from escape paths. Furthermore, it enhances passenger comfort by maintaining optimal temperature and humidity levels.
Characteristics of subway environment and ventilation requirements
Subway systems operate in enclosed underground environments where air circulation is limited. This creates unique ventilation challenges, such as high concentrations of particulate matter from train friction and braking systems, elevated temperatures due to train operations and electrical components. The necessity for emergency smoke extraction in case of fire, and the need to comply with fire safety and air quality regulations.
How to design a subway ventilation system
Designing an efficient subway ventilation system requires considering multiple factors:
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Airflow calculation – Determines the necessary air changes per hour to maintain clean air levels.
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Fan selection – Involves choosing appropriate fans based on pressure, flow rate, and noise levels.
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Emergency scenarios – Require planning smoke control strategies and ensuring safe exit pathways.
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Energy efficiency – Optimized by implementing smart control systems that adjust ventilation based on demand.
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Compliance – Must adhere to national and international safety standards to guarantee system reliability.
Requirements for safety and reliability
Each subway ventilation system must meet strict safety requirements to ensure reliability. Fans are designed to maximize efficiency and minimize energy consumption. They are tested and certified to meet EN 12101-3 standards, capable of operating at 400°C for 2 hours. Performance is certified by No-Bo and validated through aeraulic tests in accordance with AMCA and ISO regulations.
Need a high-performance subway ventilation system? Get in touch today for bespoke solutions tailored to your project requirements. Our experts are here to help you design and maintain the ideal ventilation strategy for your subway infrastructure.
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Comfort and energy-saving considerations
In subway ventilation system design, ensuring passenger comfort while optimizing energy efficiency is essential.
Energy efficiency in subway ventilation is achieved by minimizing consumption without compromising comfort.
CBI Group solution for subway and tube ventilation
CBI Group offers advanced subway ventilation solutions tailored for high-performance and safety standards.
Series CBJET
The CBJET series includes axial jet fans designed for tunnel fan ventilation. These fans ensure optimal air circulation and emergency smoke extraction.
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Airfoil blade – Optimized for high aerodynamic efficiency.
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Direct driven – Reduces maintenance and enhances reliability.
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Axial jet fan – Specifically designed for tunnels.
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Thrust range – From 500 to 3,000N, adaptable to different ventilation needs.
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Flow rates – Up to 260,000 m³/h for efficient air distribution.
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Emergency use – Suitable for forced evacuation of smoke and heat in case of fire.
Series AXL
The AXL series is designed for the ventilation of civil and industrial environments, ensuring high performance and energy efficiency.
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Airfoil blade – Designed to enhance airflow and reduce energy consumption.
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Direct coupling – Ensures greater durability and lower maintenance costs.
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Fan type – Ideal for both subway ventilation and industrial applications.
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Pressure range – Up to 5,000 Pa, suitable for high-demand systems.
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Flow rates – Reaches up to 830,000 m³/h, ensuring efficient ventilation.
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Emergency use – Can be employed for forced evacuation of smoke and heat in critical situations.
Management and Maintenance of Subway Ventilation
Proper maintenance is essential to ensure the longevity and reliability of the subway ventilation system.
Predictive Maintenance
Vibration frequency analysis helps identify potential issues before failures occur. We offer a subscription-based predictive maintenance service that enables early detection of anomalies, preventing more severe damage. Our services also include installation and commissioning, providing on-site support to ensure your equipment operates optimally. Additionally, we conduct periodic measurements of energy consumption and vibration levels, ensuring continuous performance monitoring.
Scheduled and Routine Maintenance
To ensure efficient and safe operation over time, we offer a periodic maintenance programme with annual and five-yearly inspections.
Annual Maintenance:
- Visual inspection of the impeller, drum, supports, electrical wiring, and anchors.
- Verification of the correct tightening of bolts on supports, grids, and silencers.
- Insulation and power terminal inspection.
- Measurement of vibration levels and energy consumption under full operating conditions.
- Inspection of spring dampers to ensure correct preload values.
- Delivery of a detailed report at the end of the intervention.
Five-Yearly Maintenance:
- Verification of the correct tightening of motor mounting bolts;
- Verification of the impeller/drum gap;
- Measurement of vibration levels under full operational conditions;
- Measurement of power consumption under full operational, conditions;
- Insulation check;
- Complete replacement of spring dampers;
- Impeller cleaning;
- Delivery of a control outcome report at the end of each intervention, with a record of the results.
Ten-Yearly Maintenance:
Ten-Year Maintenance at the Manufacturer-Authorized Facility:
- Cleaning and washing of drums
- Silencer refurbishment: disassembly, cleaning, and replacement of all rivets
- Motor overhaul:
- Washing of mechanical parts with oven drying
- Dynamic motor balancing
- Bearing replacement
- Rewinding
- Functional electrical testing
- Painting
- New impeller complete with hub and balancing
- Complete replacement of spring dampers
- Inspection of power and auxiliary terminal boxes
- Installation of new vibration sensors
- Installation of new detachment sensors
- Mechanical testing with certificate issuance
Extraordinary Maintenance
Our extraordinary maintenance service promptly addresses issues such as component damage, recalibration needs, and rotor shaft misalignment. With our global network, we provide fast and precise interventions to restore industrial fan operations as quickly as possible.
In addition to urgent repairs, we offer revamping services, which involve replacing fan components to enhance efficiency. This process can be carried out on-site or at our facilities, in close collaboration with the client, ensuring always the most effective and tailored solutions.
Get in Touch
Looking for a high-performance subway ventilation system? Contact us today for customized solutions tailored to your project needs. Our team is ready to assist you in designing and maintaining the optimal ventilation strategy for your subway infrastructure.
Contact us