A Study on the Fire Detection and Smoke Removal in Underground Utility Tunnel Using CFD

Abstract

The underground utility tunnel is a facility for installing and managing public infrastructure such as electricity, water supply, and telecommunication, which are required for managing urban life. Due to the underground structure, airflow is different compared to general buildings, so heat and smoke are not smoothly removed in the event of a fire, making it difficult to evacuate safely of occupants and enter firefighters. Therefore, it is essential to accurately detect the fire location based on the current state of fire occurrence and to remove smoke efficiently. This study derived the optimum sensor location for detecting fire and exhaust fan operation for smoke removal by considering the ventilation system in the target underground utility tunnel. In the future, these results can be used as a response manual for underground facilities in case of fire. Analysis and understanding of how fire propagates inside critical infrastructures can prevent future accidents.