Ventilation system in a tunnel

Tunnel ventilation Ensure the availability of ventilation systems

Increasingly longer tunnels, stricter safety requirements, and stricter environmental regulations are increasing the demands on ventilation systems in road and rail tunnels. When planning tunnel ventilation, energy efficiency and tunnel availability play an essential role, in addition to the high importance placed on the safety of road users.

Phoenix Contact provides reliable automation solutions for the energy-efficient and cost-effective operation of ventilation systems in tunnel structures.

Reliable tunnel ventilation

Traffic conditions in road tunnels mean it is crucial to continuously monitor the oxygen supply, visibility, and the concentration of pollutants in the tunnel. Ventilation systems work closely with traffic control systems to maintain the air quality in regular operation. It is particularly important to ensure that ventilation remains available in the event of a fire, so that rescue operations can be conducted.

Depiction of an accident with fire in a tunnel

Extracting smoke and heat in the event of a fire

To ensure that rescue operations can be carried out in the event of a fire, smoke and heat must be kept away from rescue workers and other road users remaining in the tunnel. A suitable ventilation control system is used to control smoke and heat in the tunnel tube. The ventilation runs in extraction or injection mode, depending on the specific fire scenario. The way in which ventilation is controlled in the event of a fire depends largely on whether the source of the fire can be located in the tunnel tube. An overpressure is generated to prevent smoke from entering the evacuation shaft.

Our solutions for your applications

Car exhaust with exhaust gases
Overhead fan in a tunnel
RFC 4072R – redundant controller with fiber-optic cable
Car exhaust with exhaust gases

Phoenix Contact enables you to connect your sensors in tunnels quickly and easily. Benefit from efficient engineering thanks to preprogrammed software function blocks from the Tunnel Functions software library.
For example, you will find sub-functions for monitoring NOx, CO, and CO₂ concentrations in our PLCnext Store. Simply load your solution straight onto your PLCnext Control device – there is zero engineering effort involved.

More about the Tunnel Functions software library
Overhead fan in a tunnel

Ventilation systems are one of the biggest consumers of power in tunnels for motor vehicles. It is therefore important that fan drives start up and operate in an energy-efficient manner. Integrating the drives into the tunnel control system allows any anomalies to be detected at an early stage.
Benefit from increased efficiency with continuous monitoring and status-based maintenance.

RFC 4072R – redundant controller with fiber-optic cable

Ventilation devices are a key element of tunnel safety. Fresh air is brought in to ensure compliance with predefined levels of carbon monoxide and diesel emissions not only in the event of a fire, but also when the volume of traffic is particularly high. The controller has a redundant configuration to prevent the ventilation system from failing.

Phoenix Contact provides appropriate solutions for ensuring the availability and the redundant design of ventilation systems.

Tunnel with overhead ventilation

Your advantages

  • Quick and easy connection of your sensors via preprogrammed software and app solutions
  • Reduced costs due to minimal engineering effort
  • Failsafe ventilation with redundant controllers
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Finding a solution together
We will be happy to help you with your modernization or extension project. Benefit from our long-standing experience and extensive range of services.
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Technician in a tunnel