Numerical analysis of particle concentration around the air-inlet of a train in a tunnel by using a discrete phase model.

Subways are used for public transportation as a commuting medium in Korea. Subway trains operate mainly through tunnels. Fine particles generated by friction between rails and train wheels affect the air quality inside a train because the particles enter the ventilation system of the train passing through a tunnel. The PM10 concentration has been mainly used to evaluate indoor air quality, and the PM2.5 concentration has measured recently. Therefore, in this study, the concentrations of the particles entering the air-inlet with respect to particle sizes including 0.1, 1, 2.5 and 10 µm were investigated by using numerical analysis with ANSYS FLUENT software. The particle analysis was performed corresponding to 10, 40 and 80 km/h. It is expected that the numerical results would be helpful in studying the effect of particles corresponding to PM2.5 on the ventilation system, to improve the air quality inside a train passing through a tunnel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]