• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.301-310
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• 2013

Jet fans are installed in road tunnels in order to maintain critical velocity when fire occurs. Generally the number of jet fans against fire are calculated by considering critical velocity and flow resistance by wall friction, vehicle drag force, thermal buoyance force and natural wind. In domestic case, thermal buoyance force is not considered in estimating the number of jet fans. So, in this study, we investigated the pressure loss due to the thermal buoyance force induced by tunnel air temperature rise and the impact of thermal buoyance force on the number of jet fans by the numerical fire simulation for the tunnel length(500, 750, 1000, 1500, 2000, 3500m) and grade (-1.0, -1.5, -2.0%). Considering the thermal buoyance force, number of jet fans have to be increased. Especially in the case of 100MW of heat release rate, the pressure loss due to thermal buoyance force exceed the maximum pressure loss due to vehicle drag resistance, so it is analyzed that number of 2~11 jet fans are needed additionally than current design criteria. Thus, in case of estimating the number of jet fans, it must be considered of thermal buoyance force induced tunnel air temperature rise by fire.