EP2032215B1

EP2032215B1 - Railway or urban subway's route tunnel with a rail in combination with a fire extinguishing device of deluge type

Info

Publication number: EP2032215B1
Application number: EP07805667A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alvaro Noli; Mauro Callegari
Original assignee: STS SRL
Current assignee: STS SRL
Priority date: 2006-06-28
Filing date: 2007-06-26
Publication date: 2012-04-18
Anticipated expiration: 2027-06-26
Also published as: ATE553818T1; SI2032215T1; EP2032215A1; ITGE20060068A1; WO2008001409A1

Abstract

The invention is relative to a new fire-fighting device of deluge type for the control and suppression of blazes, installable in railway and subway's tunnels, that uses as extinguishing the liquid foam extinguisher and that, further to the particular placement of the sprinklers (10), consents to be activated in presence of voltage along the railway route or along the urban subway routes. The invention comprise moreover a fire-fighting device comprising at least two fire-fighting devices opportunately connected.

Description

Technical Field

The present invention regards railway or urban subway's route tunnels with a rail in combination with a fire extinguishing device of deluge type, particularly compatible to the structural conformation of the trains and to the safety standards.

Background Art

At the present time the fine-fighting water plant design which in the "Guide lines to the railway's tunnel" (D.M. Italian 03/96 Fasc:4101) foresees the replenishment of the fire-fighting water system through the hand-fed of the pumps only after the Italian railway network staff confirms that the shutdown voltage took place, and the following usage of the fire hydrant, placed in the cubbies of the tunnel, by the VV.F./R.F.I staff once the entry in the tunnel took place.
This procedure postpone the action and fire-fighting time that are related to both the time necessary for the replenishment of the main pipe, and to the time necessary to the exchange of the stationary in use and to the placement of the earthing poles.
Furthermore the replenishment of the main pipe placed in the tunnel happens, normally, in a period of time that goes from 20 to 30 minutes; in this period of time, the concentration of the products of the combustion, reach high levels; contextually, due to the length of the tunnels, the exposure time to the smokes of different toxic elements is extended along the time.
Regarding the railway tunnel geometry the absence of ventilation or anyway the presence of a ventilation related to the railway traffic makes the same tunnel an adiabatic environment (absence of heat exchange with the open air) therefore the whole Heat Rating produced (RHR) remains inside the engineering structure and the smoke capacity is raising in the course of time.
Eventual structural partitioning in vault or in cement footings are related to the Rating Heat produced, that being not able to get transmitted to the open air (adiabatic environment) react by radiation and convection on the structures. To this day it does not exist for the railway tunnels a shutdown system that consents the activation of any fire extinguisher when in presence of voltage on the power rail at 3600 V, it needs to wait the time related to the shutdown voltage procedure with the placement of the earthing poles, estimated time between 30 to 40 minutes. It is not possible therefore, obtain an immediate and localised shutdown to impede the extending of the fire.
Similarly in the subway and urban subway's route tunnels it is not possible to intervene on a blaze when in presence of voltage on the power rail.
Of what is been exposed above is possible to show the following problems related to a possible blaze in a tunnel:

Speed of displacement of the people.
speed of the smoke in the instance of entrance.
Possible structural partitioning during the blaze in the tunnel.

Proportionally to the speed of displacement the same is bound to the features of the railway ballast and to the eventual presence of passages that in anyway do not allow fast horizontal displacements by the passengers. EP 1166822 A1 discloses a railway or urban subway's route tunnel with a rail in combination with a fire extinguishing device.

Disclosure of invention

The main goal of the present invention is to provide a railway or urban subway's route tunnel with a rail in combination with a fire extinguishing device of deluge type where its activation is allowed in presence of voltage on the power rail. Other advantages coming from the minor features of the invention are subject of the dependent claims. The extinguishing agent is an extinguishing foam. Normally it's used for the extinguishing of blazes that involve both liquid (Class B) and solid (Class A) fuels.
The foam as extinguishing agent is made by the simultaneous combination of three different substances:

water,
concentrated foam liquid,
air.

A water/foam blending system ensures to blend the correct quantity of concentrated foam liquid with water. The foaming solution that is obtained from the blending of the water with the concentrated foam liquid is therefore sent, through a distributing system, to the sprinklers that ensure to add air to obtain the foam and distribute it so to the protected zone.
The Extinguishing action of the foam is mainly based on the following principles:

To physically separate the oxidant (02) contained in the air of the fuel.
Make cold the materials close to the blaze.
Impede the outflow of flammable steams by the fuel.

The extinguishing effectiveness of the foam has been widely and many times experimented for controlling the extinguishing of various type and size blazes in the industrial, civil and transport section, but they have never been assumed or used foam fire-fighting extinguishers or devises for railway tunnels compatible to the safety rules, to the railway substructures and to the potential intrinsic dangers as, for example the roaming draughts.
We can ensure that the fire-fighting device according to the invention has a better application in the new railway tunnels. It would be more opportune to extend the application in the shortest but with more city traffic galleries and to the existent ones that have big chambers or cubbies of appropriate dimensions or access windows assuming chafing pieces (the same windows) where it is achievable, where the possibility of exiting for the train in the tunnel is absence, a localized shutting. Another application of the invention is the installation in the tunnels of the urban subway's routes.
The inconvenient of the present fire-fighting systems are solved by the applicant through the subject-matter of claim 1.
The position and orientation of the sprinklers are defined in function of the same tunnel's geometry considering the slope, the height variation respect to the entrances, curves, and the movements of the train in curve etc. The sprinklers are assembled preferably along the walls of the railway's tunnel.
The fire-fighting device according to this invention is a device that uses and extinguishing foam to control and suppress blazes in the railway and urban subway's route tunnels, where the word suppression, both in the description and in the claims, is to be intended as the drastic reduction of the Heat Rating produced by a fire (RHR). Numerical simulations made with computational fluid dynamics programs (free code Fire Dynamics simulator (FDS) made available by NIST; and the commercial code Fluent) allow to show that the smoke delivery further to the activation of the device S.P.I.S., comprising at least two devices according to the invention and having the features carried over in the evolution example, is reduced from a maximum of 40-45 m³/sec to values lower that 20-25 m³/sec. Alike processes in a quality level can be derived for CO concentrations, temperatures, etc... Consequently the evacuation's time by walking from the tunnel in sustainable situations for the people (temperatures, heat radiation level, visibility, ease of breathing), or better the pervious distances by the occupiers of the train in low risk situations, are raised by the mitigation action of the system S.P.I.S.. In other words the system is able to decelerate the advancement of the smoke front, the front of the high temperature and of the low visibility.
The invention carried on in the dependent clauses also shows in contrast to the lacks of the other fire-fighting systems currently used in the railway tunnels, permit to:

consent the activation by any occupier of train of the fire-fighting device in presence of voltage on the power rail (that is of 3600 V for the railway routes);
consent the raising of the pervious distance by the people during the exiting.
To attenuate the smoke production and their temperature's rate, reducing in the same time in the smallest possible degree the natural stratification in vault by the same.
To attenuate and, afterwards, reverse (in the sense of its decreasing) the course of the Heat Rating of the blaze (RHR), reducing the eventual structural partitioning in vault and/or on the cement footing of the tunnel.

In relation to the intervention, considering the activation time, it could be said that the same present itself as:

Well-timed.
Effective.
Fast.
Localized.

Considering the present standardized measures of a train coach and the typical profile of the railway tunnel geometry (particularly the ones with single or double track) turn out that the fire-fighting control and/or suppress devices of the blazes in railway tunnels are useful where the inclination is an angle between 25-35° that lies on a transversal section of the railway tunnel and this angle is included between the axis (Z), perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (W) of the nozzle sprinkler, and a horizontal axis (K) parallel to the top of rail and passer-by the collector that joins the distribution system to the sprinkler (look at Fig. 7 details X and Y), where the top of rail is intended as guide rail of the wheel of the rolling units on the rails. It resulted more useful the fire-fighting devices with an inclination of the sprinklers equal to angles of about 30°.
So as to adapt the fire-fighting device according to the invention to the dimensions of the present railway's coaches and to the tunnel's profile, a part of these sprinklers are placed to a height from the top of rail equal to 3.660 - 4.060 m, preferably between 3.760-3.960 m, and a further part of these sprinklers is situated to a height from the top of rail equal to 1.440 - 1.840 m preferably between 1.540 - 1.740. In this way we avoid that the railway train while running through curves, when as the result of the centrifugal force inclines, tears out from their supports the sprinklers placed aloft. At the same time, the sprinklers that are placed on the minor height deliver foam to the height of the under floor of the railway coach, where the voltage equipment of the train (power supply, batteries, electric cables, etc.). Moreover it can be present organic material on the top of rail and on the rolling trucks, caused by the lavatories of the toilettes of the train or by the lubrication of the moving organs, that can cause combustion further to the sparkles caused by the rolling of the rolling wheels on the rails and/or by the jamming of the brake system.
It turned out to be particularly effective the fire-fighting devices according to the invention where the sprinklers are filled cone nozzle, especially if are specific for tunnel. To foresee the clogging of the nozzles is opportune to protect them with protection plugs with safety chain.
Preferably the flow control device placed on the distribution system of the extinguishing foam comprises at least a flood valve, which can be advantageously motorised. An upstream pressure controller of this valve easily consents the opening in the moment in which the upstream piping of the valve is in pressure, is therefore convenient that the flow control device placed on the distribution system of the extinguishing foam comprises also an upstream pressure controller of the aforesaid flood valve.
The source of the foaming solution, in turn comprises:

at least a source of water,
at least a pumping device,
at least a blending device for the foaming solution
at least a tank containing the concentrated foam liquid.

In order to optimise the plant design and the exploitation of the spaces and make easier the installation is preferable to make compact some parts of the fire-fighting device in holders that are placed inside the cubbies already present in the existing tunnels. Therefore is better that the pumping device, the blending device of the foaming solution and the tank containing the concentrated foam liquid are comprise in a sole holder, called by the applicant "pumps primal holder and blending foam liquid stationary" and that the source of water is a water storage tank contained in a holder called by the applicant "fire-fighting water storage tank holder"
As already anticipated is suggested that these holders are placed inside the aforesaid railway tunnels in specific dedicated cubbies. It is therefore better that the " pumps primal holder and blending foam liquid stationary" and that the "fire-fighting water storage tank holder" are constituted of a sole body assembled in factory with walls that are externally electro-welded, and have the following dimensions:

length between 5.955 - 6.155 m
length between 2.338 - 2.538 m m
length between 2.491 - 2.691 m

A particular paint system of the non-stainless-steel parts of the holders, detailed in the following evolution example, guarantees the outfit of the manufactured product.
The blending foam solution device is advantageously a double concentrated foam water/liquid, and this blender allows conveniently to set up the dilution percentages of the concentrated foam liquid inside the water according to the concentrated foam liquid type that has been chosen.
It is suggested to use a concentrated foam liquid of a biodegradable kind, to avoid the environmental pollution, being in this case, facilitated the treatment operation of the sullages of drainage in case of the device intervention.
It result particularly indicated, for fires that include liquid (Call B) and solid (Class A) fuels, the film forming and biodegradable foam liquid AFFF type Fluorosynthetic film forming composed with hydrocarbons surfactants, which the dilution percentage inside the water for the usage is 6%. Therefore is better to put this concentrated foam liquid in the concentrated foam liquid tank of the fire-fighting device.
Using this type of concentrated foam liquid, with a capacity of the tank of the concentrated foam liquid of 2 m³ and with a capacity of the fire-fighting water storage tank holder of 30 m³ the fire-fighting device according to the invention is able to distribute foam along a part of the tunnel long 400 - 460 m with a 5 minutes range allowing therefore to the passengers to evacuate and to walk away prominently from the railway coach in which the blaze have developed.
It is defined as "zone" the portion of the tunnel that is protected by the fire-fighting device according to the invention and section a part of this zone. In each zone is present in the downstream of the main pumps holder and of the blending foam liquid stationary and of the fire-fighting water storage tank holder, at least a flood valve relative to the zone that is protected by the distribution system of the foam solution. This valve once is opened allows the passage of the foam solution in the entire distribution system that allows the distribution of foam along the entire trait of the zone. It seems better to interject between the branches of the foam distribution system relative to a section, upstream of the nozzles and downstream of the flood valve relative to a zone, an ulterior flood valve, relative to the single section, remote-controlled and associable to a single switch placed along the evacuation route in a way that the people that try to evacuate from the tunnel can activate the fire-fighting device in every single section as the go through it. Alternatively this switch can be activated from the remote position preferably through the "Supervision and Controlling System" expected by the "Guide lines to the railway's tunnel".
In case of tunnels with length greater than 400-460 m is preferable to link at least two devices, both to cover a greater number of zones, and to be able to realize a fire-fighting extinguisher for railway tunnels, particularly with single or double tracks, comprising at least of two fire-fighting devices according to the invention in which the aforesaid devices are joint in an adjacent position and joint through collectors that consent to a first fire-fighting device, to work as a source of foam solution for a second fire-fighting device. In this way, in case of necessity, the distribution autonomy of the second fire-fighting device doubles being doubled the quantity of foam solution available, consequently there will be a greater amount of time to evacuate the zone. The switch that allows to the first fire-fighting device to work as a source of foam solution for the second fire-fighting device can be remote-controlled and associated to a switch placed along the escape route or can be activated from a remote position, preferably through the "Supervision and Controlling System" expected by the "Guide lines to the railway's tunnel".
The activation of each fire-fighting device according to the invention can advantageously happen manually through local command with switches placed on the sidewall of the tunnel or from a remote position, preferably through the "Supervision and Controlling System".
Further features and advantages of the invention will result clear from the following evolution example.
The present invention will be better-understood by the expert of the field with reference to the attached figures and to a practical example, non-limiting of the invention, relative to a fire-fighting system comprising at least two fire-fighting devices as described above.
It is described afterward an example of a fire-fighting device according to the invention or S.P.I.F. (Internal Foam Protection System), designed for the protection of railway tunnels with single or double track that comprises at least two devices according to the invention in which this fire-fighting devices are placed in an adjacent position and joint through collectors that allow to a first fire-fighting device, to work as a source of foam solution for a second fire-fighting device. An expert of the field, being so the invention will be able to proportionate different fire-fighting devices and fire-fighting systems in the cases where the operative parameters are different ( for ex. Length and height of a train or railway tunnel geometry).
The parameters used in the dimensioning of the systems have taken into account the following data.

The average length of the zone 430 metres (Length of the "standard" train)
The average width of the tunnel with double track (8 metres)
The average length of a railway coach (40 metres)
The average length of the train section 43 m

The intervention area of the system, according to a test on the potential blaze danger, has been defined during designing equal to the length of two coaches (2x40 metres).

S.P.I.S. system use device

The system S.P.I.S. is conceived as foam system for tunnel blaze controlling and suppressing, where with the term suppression is intent the drastic reduction of the Heat Rating produced by a fire (RHR).
The starting point is the following background:

an entire passenger's coach with a flash over (inside and outside the coach);
a coach that is stopped inside the tunnel (adiabatic environment).

In blaze condition with free development the reference event is able to generate between 10 MW and 13 MW of power, with a time growth of the RHR of about 10 minutes.
A reasonable activation estimate of the sprinkler S.P.I.S., counted starting from the moment of free development of the blaze (often identifiable with the moment in which the train is completely stopped in the tunnel), is not over 4 minutes. Starting from that moment, the process of the power produced by the blaze is soften, and further, it seems inverted in means of a reduction. The same process undergoes the entire phenomenology linked to the value of the blaze power (brought by the produced smokes, temperatures, residual of toxic product generated by the combustion, etc..).
Numerical simulations made with computational fluid dynamics programs (free code Fire Dynamics simulator (FDS) made available by NIST; and the commercial code Fluent) allow to show that the smoke delivery further to the activation of the device S.P.I.S., which features will be carried back further, is reduced from a maximum of 40-45 m3/sec to values lower that 20-25 m3/sec. Alike processes in a quality level can be derived for CO concentrations, temperatures, etc...
Consequently the evacuation's time by walking from the tunnel in sustainable situations for the people (temperatures, heat radiation level, visibility, ease of breathing), or better the pervious distances by the occupiers of the train in low risk situations, are raised by the mitigation action of the system S.P.I.S..
In other words the system is able to decelerate the advancement of the smoke front, and the front of the high temperature and low visibility.
The distribution autonomy of the illustrated system S.P.I.S. is of 5 minutes considering the worst simultaneous distribution hypothesis of two zones (more that 800 m of tunnel route).
This value can be fatherly raised (to be more précised double, bringing to total 10 minutes of sprinkling net time) through the activation of a group storing/pumping (11) situated in the adjacent zone and comprising a tank "holder" to accumulate fire-fighting water (1) and of a pumps primal "holder" and blending foam liquid station (2). Indeed, as we get from figure 3, regardless of the position - or rather of the zone - in which is requested the distribution of the system, at least two storing/pumping stations (11) can operate. In this way the adjacent fire-fighting device works as foam solution source for the first fire-fighting device.
As far as what is can be said above that people with reduced mobility (0,8 m/sec) and with high-mobility (about 1,2 m/sec) are able to walk a distance respectively from 480 to 720 metres; consequently are able to get themselves into the next zone protected by the system in a reasonable short time.
The numeric simulations and the literature conducted studies and the nowadays documentation available to characterized the genesis of the referenced event) in condition of free blaze development and unmitigated, discover an advancement of the front of (low) danger (conventionally defined by T=60 °C and standard of CO 500 ppm) according to the following scheme:

Covered distances moving away from the place of the blaze with t= time of evacuation in minutes and d= distance covered in metres.

t= 5 min	d=50 m (because of surprise, confusion, evacuation from the coaches);
t= 10 min	d=300 m;
t= 15 min	d=700 m;

Clearly the activation of the system S.P.I.S., on what is been exposed by now, slightly tends to shorten the covered distances from the unsafe front, in equal time.

Reference standards

Beyond all the existing laws, standards and rules on the national Italian territory, are particularly pointed out the following specific standards:

NFPA 11 (National Fire Protection Association) "Standard for Low Expansion Foam"
UNI 9490 Water supply for fire-fighting extinguishers.

"S.P.I.S. System for railway tunnels

The S.P.I.S. system, studied for the tunnels safety, is a fire-fighting blaze control and/or suppression system in railway tunnels constituted of at least two fire-fighting device according to the invention that is a foam deluge type system with the nozzles (10) opportunely placed on the side walls of the protected tunnel (look at figure 4,5,6,7).
The system comprises modular shut down stations (1,2), to be placed preferably inside the "cubbies" (13) appositely realized, in the service of a foam solution distribution system (4) finishing with cone nozzle filled up sprinklers (10), placed opportunely inside the tunnel. The replenishment of the fire-fighting water storage holder tanks (1) necessary, will happen preferably using the extinguisher's system expected by the "Guide Lines".
A deluge type system is composed by a control valve (flood valve (3) relative to one zone) usually closed, a distribution system (4), downstream of the flood valve (3), made by empty tubes and nozzles (10) always open protected with a plug with safety chain that is ejected by the foam when sprinkling.
The cone nozzle filled up sprinklers will be placed with an inclination (30°) in a way to intervene on the upper and lower part of the train loading gauge and in the same time consent the activation of the system in presence of voltage on the power rail, obtaining therefore an immediate and localized shut down in a way to impede the spreading of the blaze.
In case of switching on the system, the control valve relative to the zone (3) (motorized flood valve) gets opened further to the consent by the pressure controller (14) and the foam solution, through the distribution system (4), is sent by the nozzles (10) placed in a zone where all gets in function contemporarily.
The railway tunnels are subdivided in zones and each zone is fatherly subdivided in sections (look Figure 3).
The typical extension of a section is of 40-46 metres. In each zone of the tunnel is present a fire-fighting device according to the invention that has an own "fire-fighting water storage tank holder" (1) associated to "pumps primal holder and blending foam liquid stationary" (2) (look figure 9,10,11).
Each section (40 metres) is served by at least one control valve (for ex. A flood valve (12) relative to the section) upstream of its own distribution system of the foam solution relative to the single section.
In case of fire in a determinate zone is activated the devoted fire-fighting device and, in case this happens straddle of two zones, it is also activated the device of the adjacent zone (look figure 3).
The activation of the device can happen indifferently manually through local switch control or from remote position through the "Supervision and Controlling System" expected by the "Guide lines to the railway's tunnel". In accordance with the rules inherent to the safety in force in more countries, the local switch control placed along the escape routes are not far from each other for more than 25m.
Preferably are arranged deluge system control valves (12) also upstream each section in a way to activate only the nozzle of one or more section but not of the whole zone.

Description of the "S.P.I.S." System for railway tunnels

Each fire-fighting device comprised in the fire-fighting system according to the invention for railway tunnels comprises:

Tank "holder" to accumulate fire-fighting water (1).
A pumps primal "holder" and blending foam liquid station (2).
Control valve of the deluge systems (3)(12)
Distribution system (4) of the foam solution to the nozzles.

Tank "holder" to accumulate fire-fighting water (1) and pumps primal "holder" and blending foam liquid station (2) are preferably placed inside the railway tunnels in appropriate "dedicated cubbies" (13) opportunately realized (look figures 4,5).
Figure 1 shows the placement of the control valves (12) (flood valves) upstream each section along the tunnel, in median position of the respective controlled section. Preferably these valves are placed in an appropriate cubby obtained on the tunnel's walls. Upstream these valves can be inserted some pressure controllers (14).
The alarm and command managing station to be connected to the "Supervision and Controlling System" expected by the "Guide lines" can be installed inside the pumps primal holder and blending foam liquid stationary (2).

Fire-fighting device supply system

The tank holder tank to accumulate fire-fighting water (1) has a capacity of 30 m³ (look figure 12,13,14,15) and is dimensioned in the hypothesis of activation of the fire-fighting device in one zone for a period of five minutes (look figure 4,5,6,7,).
The pumps primal holder and blending foam liquid stationary (2) comprises two electric pumps (9), a main one and one in reserve, with each a capacity of 6 m³/min with prevalence of about 9 bar (look figure 8).
The collectors and the internal circuits of this "holder" are so to permit the controlling and efficiency of the system through an appropriate test system as prescribed in the standards UNI 9490.
Each electric pump (9) has its own control panel.
The water supply to the automatic blending groups (8) (a main one and one in reserve) happens through a collector supplied by the pumps(9).

Tank and blending system of the concentrated foam liquid.

The pumps primal holder and blending foam liquid stationary (2) (look figure 8A-8L) comprises besides the main pumps the following equipments:

Concentrated foam liquid storing tank (7) with a capacity of 2 m³, functioning of one zone with a 5 minutes range;
double concentrated foam water/liquid blender (8) PA 6600 calibrated for a blending percentage of 6 % and appropriate to cover the capacity of one or two zones contemporarily;
By pass for blender - service and reserve;
power control panels of the electrical pumps and relative equipment.

The electrical pumps are normally still and are activated manually, through switches placed along the escape route or through the "Supervision and Controlling System"

Flood valve

The flood valves (3) control the foam solution supply to the zones to them associated (look figure 2). Further flood valves (12) of each single section are inserted in the foam solution distribution system (4) upstream the nozzles (10) and downstream the flood valve relative to the zone (3) as it can be seen in figure 1.
The valves, preferably motorized, are normally closed and are opened with the consent of the pressure controller through an appropriate switch placed along the escape route or from remote station through the "Supervision and Controlling System" expected by the "Guide Lines for railway tunnels".
The flood valves have their own accomplishment electrical type system.

Distribution system of the foam solution.

Downstream the flood valves relative to a single zone (3) the distribution system (4) of the foam solution develop along the length of the entire zone of the protected tunnel reaching more sections as shown in figure 1.
The distribution system tubes (4) of the foam solution are placed on the two side walls on a height of about 4 metres above the upper surface of the rail (S.R.) The right and left collectors, are supplied with appropriate water/foam nozzle sprinklers (10) of spray type which position and orientation are defined in function of the same tunnel's geometry.
To foresee the clogging of the nozzles are expected protection plugs with safety chain.
The distribution system of the foam solution (4) to the nozzle (10) is constituted of a stainless tubing by law UNI 6363, stainless quality Fe 410, hot galvanization by law UNI 5745 inside and outside, with smooth ends (for butt welding) or threaded for junctions; with a double layer polyethylene coating applied for extrusion according to the law UNI 9099 diameter from DN 150 (6") to DN 30 (1") as the tubing must be opportunately tapered. The tube junctions are preferably coated with self-amalgamate tapes in polyethylene. This coating is been adapted as for protection from the roaming draughts and from the accidental voltaging caused by the presence of the power rail.
The foam solution distribution system to the nozzles is fixed through reinforcements; in order to protect from the roaming draughts such reinforcements are affixed prior placement, in the holes obtained for the supporting plugs, of insulator resin and in cohesion to the supporting surface directly in contact with the tunnel's structure will be placed tape in polyethylene.
In order of resistance to fire REI 120 already expected for the water fire-fighting device, the tubing and the whole "shutting down system" (supports, fixed points, nozzles, etc.) will not be protected, being such protection expensive and considering that the fire should be put out during the ignition phase.

description of the main components

Hereinafter are listed the main components of the fire-fighting devices used according to the invention and the features of the same.

Pumps primal holder and blending station.

Such holder is indicated in figures 8A-8L and comprises the following listed elements.

Container

Container of 20' according to law ISO 668 series 1

The container is equipped with a "winching device" such to permit, with adequate movement system, the insertment inside the "cubbies" prepared in the tunnel.

Sizes

Length: 6.055 m
Width: 2.438 m
Height 2.591 m

Features and constructive details

Container set up by a sole body assembled in factory with walls externally electro-welded. Such production technique allows a perfect protection from water infiltration risk inside the "holder" further to ensure a high capacity of resistance against impingements and fire.

Casing

The main structure is made on a perimeter of spars and a number of traverses and jack rafters realized with sections in steel sheets cold pressed.

Base

The base is welded to the supporting structure, along the perimeter spars and segmented on the traverses. Is opportunately caulked through the application of a layer of mineral wool thick 100 mm.
Constructively is presented composed by three layers of materials:

1° layer: Sheet of 3 mm thickness that constitutes the floor;
2° layer: 100 mm mineral wool;
3° layer: sheet of 1 mm thickness that has the function of containment of the mineral wool.

To the corners are placed n° 4 angle block able to consent the application of the container on a truck or a railway wagon equipped with twist-lock standard hook.

Roof structure and posts

In advance the external profile of the manufacture is constituted by a bed molding in steel sheet cold pressed and have on the corners n°4 angle blocks according to Dima ISO.
The covering is realized in stainless-steel sheet given thickness 10/10 esplanade perimetrally, laid of the bed molding and to that welded in continuity.

Walls

The walls are constituted by the assemblage of the panels in stainless-steel sheets given thickness 10/10.
The four angles (comers) are realized with pressed steel sheets (4 mm of thickness) welded both to the angle blocks and to the spars.

Doors

The container has two doors.
The first one with double wings placed on the side of 2438 mm.
The second one also with double wings placed on the side of 6.055 mm.
The doors have a size of 2.000 m x 2.300 m (H) supplied with panic lock and handle and are fixed to the walls through non-untwist hinges.
The panels are realized with metal section welded in one piece able to guarantee a high grade of crush proofing and consistency.

Painting

The painting of the surfaces at sight (excluded the stainless parts) is made according to the following procedure that ensures the holding of the manufacture in a humid environment and scarcely ventilated as the railway tunnels.

- internal surfaces: sheet with prior painting
external surfaces:
- treated with sandblast SA 2,5
inorganic zinc based paint application 60 micron
baking epoxy application 60 micron
paint finishing with polyurethane enamel 60 micron

Electrical system

The light sockets and D.F., the switches and the nonself-luminous are in execution IP 55. The light loops and D.F. are realized with CEI 20-36 cables adequately protected with tubing and cable boxes in low emission and non-spreading PVC.
The cable section is adequate to the required power.

Earthing system

All the electrical equipments and the installed accessories are regularly connected to an appropriate earthing system. The system will connect to the external system through appropriate devices, pile shoes or earth mesh installed during the realization of the base in c.a..

Pressurisation's group

Constituted by number 2 electro-pumps (one in reserve to the other one).

Operation features

Standards compliance:	UNI 9490 -UNI 10779
Capacity:	6200 litres/minutes
Total head:	90 metres
revolution/1 ' :	2940
Max power consumption:	160 kW
Installed power:	160 kW
NPSHr:	5,4 Mt.

Features and constructive details

Electro-pumps:		Horizontal centrifugal pump ISO 2858 - ISO 5199
	Construction:		"end suction"
	Pumped liquid:		industrial water
	Specific gravity:		1 kg / dm3
	Temperature:	20° C
	Seal:	mechanical
	Bearing:		ball
	Lubrication:	oil
	locking ring: elastic
	base/piping:	section/sheet

Materials:

Body:	cast iron
Wheel:	stainless
Spindle:	steel AISI 420

Electric motor

Power:	160 kW
Shape:	B3
Poles/revolution/1 ':	2/2950
Volt/fase/Hz:	380/3/50
Insulation/protection:	F/IP55

Group assembling:

Pump and electric motor are assembled on common base, matched with flexible coupling complete of safe working protection. The base is equipped with suitable anti-vibrant seals. The group will be painted in red RAL 3000 - according to UNI 5634-97.

Controlling switchboards

The electro-pumps primer boards will be realized according to law UNI9490- 10779 and electrical law EN 60439-1 and CEI-EN 60204 file 2119e.

Type of priming: star-triangle

Voltage supply: 380/3/50 TRIFASE
The boards are constituted in painted steel sheets RAL 7032 with protection IP54.
Are completed with:

Quadripolar isolator with door block
Fuses with a high breaking capacity
Single phase transformer for low voltage loop
Amperemeter and Voltometer with commutator
Relay for frequency and missing phase controlling
Selector (AUT-MAN-STOP) with removable key only when selector is set on AUT.
Indicator lamp
General start and stop switch
Side socket of 16A 220 Volt with distribution switch and protection fuses.
Contacts free from voltage for remote signals.

Accessories for pumps group and board assemblage

Number of different accessories for the right installation of the pump groups comprising system attachments to the structure of the container, anti-vibrant seal, safe working protection, etc.
Main electrical board for distribution, complete of three-phase protections for the following areas:

number 2 outgoing feeders for piloting the signals of the 2 electro-pumps (pressure controller);
number 1 outgoing feeders of the monitoring station and control system;
number 1 outgoing feeders for the air heater control.

Flange cast iron and bronze gate series PN 16 for aspiration pump lines.
Valves and tools for pump diffuser collectors, included:

priming pressure controllers (PSL) with one contact SPDT;
consensus pressure controllers (PSH) with one contact SPDT;
pressure gauge to control pump diffuser pressure;
pressure gauge to control pump aspiration pressure;
wafer check valve for the insertion between flanges PN 16;
butterfly valve batch, wafer type, with control wheel;
body in spheroidal cast iron, stainless-steel disk AISI 316, seal in EPDM;
threaded gate in bronze;
Shut-off, check and relief valve batch, in bronze, DN15 and DN 25 for the different auxiliary circuits of the pumping station.

flow meter with relative regulating valve for the periodical pump checking.
Electro-joined tubing in bleck steel, painted, complete of plane flanges series UNI, welded and threaded pipe joint, tension rod, seals, etc. for the collector constraction.
Bearers, plates, sections, brides, collars, screws and bolts for the collectors installation.
Electric power and control cables non-extending flame type, comprising assemblage accessories, joint box, ramps, cable holder pumps for the connection of all the electrical equipment and tools to the pump station, from the ns. Electrical board (are excluded all the power cables to the ns. Electrical boards).

Tank of the concentrated foam liquid (7)

Number of different accessories for the right installation of the pump groups comprising system attachments to the structure of the container, anti-vibrant seal, safe working protection.

Stainless-steel tank, capacity 2 m³.

The tank is complete with all the following accessories:

upper hatch;
venting automatic valve;
level indicator;
relief valve with nozzle fiiting;
quick fit valve for the tank filling;
foam intake valve;
electric switch for low level alarm.

Concentrated foam liquid

Film forming foam liquid AFFF Fluorsynthetic film forming type composed with hydrocarbons surfactants (where the dilution percentage to obtain the foam liquid is 6%), particularly indicated for fires that implicate liquid (Call B) and solid (Class A) fuels.

Automatic blending system

Automatic blending system, comprising:

Double automatic blender (8) of "pump blending) type comprising:

Flanged body in bronze.
stainless-steel internals 316.
Seal made with special rubber.
Aspiration group EP 600.
Design pressure 16 Bar.
Test pressure 24 Bar.

Interception and check valve in stainless-steel for foam line.
Electro-joined tubing in bleck steel, complete of plane flanges series UNI, welded and threaded pipe joint, tension rod, seals, etc. for make the primary circuit and the secondary circuit.
Bearers, plates, sections, brides, collars, screws and bolts for the collectors installation.

Fire-fighting water storage tank holder

Such holder is indicated in figures 12,-15 and comprises the following listed elements.

Container

Container of 20' according to law ISO 668 series 1

Sizes

- Length: 6.055 m
- Width: 2.438 m
- Height 2.591 m

Features and constructive details

Container set up by a sole body assembled in factory with walls externally electro-welded. Such production tecnique allows a perfect protection from water infiltration risk inside the "holder" further to ensure a high capacity of resistance against impingements and fire.

Casing

The main structure is made on a perimeter of spars and a number of traverses and currents realized with sections in steel sheets cold pressed.

Base

The base is welded to the supporting structure, along the perimeter spars and on the traverses. To the corners are placed n° 4 angle block able to consent the application of the container on a truck or a railway wagon equipped with twist-lock standard hook.

Roof structure and posts

In advance the external profile of the manufacture is constituted by a bed molding in steel sheet cold pressed and have on the corners n°4 angle blocks according to Dima ISO.
The covering is realized in stainless-steel sheet given thickness 10/10 esplanaded perimetrally, layed of the bed molding and to that welded in continuity.
The roof has a manhol diameter 24" complete of air vent and stainless cap.

Walls

The walls are constituted by the assemblage of the panels in stainless-steel sheets given thickness 10/10.
The four angles (comers) are realized with pressed steel sheets (4 mm of thickness) welded both to the angle blocks and to the spars.
A particular painting cicle garantees the perfect the holding of the manufacture in a humid environment and scarcely ventilated as the railway tunnels

Painting

The painting of the surfaces (except the stainless parts) is done according to the following procedure

internal surfaces: specific total waterproof cycle
external surfaces:
- treated with sandblast SA 2,5
- inorganic zinc based paint application 60 micron
- baking epoxy application 60 micron
- paint finishing with polyurethane enamel 60 micron

Electrical system

The light sockets and and D.F., the the switches and the nonself-luminous are in execution IP 55.
The light loops and D.F. are realized with CEI 20-22 / 20-36 cables adequately protected with tubings and cable boxes in low emission and non-spreading PVC.
The cable section is adequate to the required power.

Earthing system

Accessories for the tank container holder assemblage

Number of different accessories for the right installation of the container, anti-vibrant seal, safe working protection, etc..
Nozzle realized with painted carbon steel tubing complete of flange PN 16 for insertion of tank filling group (float valves).
Drain valve complete of joint to connect to the flexible tube.
Flange cast iron and bronze gate series PN 16 for aspiration pump lines.
Magnetic level indicator in stainless-steel

connection 1"
wet parts in AISI 316;
visual indication with bicoloured stairs in makrolon;
foam intake valve;
microswitch IP67.

Double flanged float valve PN 16.
Aspiration collector reilized with painted carbon steel tubing complete of flange PN 16 and anti-vortex plate.
Collector for test loop reilized with painted carbon steel tubing complete of flange PN 16.

Main components of the foam solution distribution system (deluge systems)

Such components are indicated in figures 1 and 2, and comprises the following listed elements.

Flood valve group DN150

Sphere valve DN 150 total passage monoblock straight route wafer split:

Body in steel ASTMA A 150.
Sphere in steel AISI 316.
Bar in steel AISI 316.
Seal in PTFE.
Fire safe design.
PN 16
Pre-set for actuator setup.

Compact electric actuator suitable for the activation of the valves ¼ of revolution.

Double watertight manufacture IP68 (IEC529).
Middle barrier between the terminal strip and the internal parts.
Operating temperature -20° C / + 70° C.
Dimensioned in function to the couple of the sphere valve.
Couple Max 1000 Nm.
Clockwise opening.
Electronic torque sensors.
Power 380 V - 50 Hz.
Insulation class F.
Built-in thermostatic switch.

A number of monitoring relays singularly calibrated for the following allerts:

Valve position (open/close).
Status (valve in movement).
Allarms (blocked valve - operation through wheel - loss of power). Pressure gauge AISI 316.
Diameter 100 mm.
Fastening ½".
Pressure gauge holder in AISI 316 with fastening ½". Sphere valve DN 150 total passage monoblock straight route wafer split:
Lever hand control (interception system).
Body in steel ASTMA A 150.
Sphere in steel AISI 316.
Bar in steel AISI 316.
Seal in PTFE.
Fire safe design.
PN 16

Number of accessories for the valve group assemblage.

Counter-flange ASTMA A 105.
Bolts in AISI 316.
Seals.

lines drain valves;

Sphere valve total threaded route:

Body in steel AISI 316.
Sphere in AISI 316.
Diameter ½".
Lever control.

Spray nozzles upper line (situated st 3,86 m from S.R)

Nozzle sprinkler (10) with filled cone specific for tunnel:

Body in steel AISI 316.
Capacity coefficient to be defined along the design.
Fastening ½".
Protection plugs with safety chain.

Spray nozzles lower line (situated st 1, 64 m from S.R)

Nozzle sprinkler (10) with filled cone specific for tunnel:

Tubing inside the tunnel

Tubing from the main pumpholder to the flood valve

Tubing without welding for water-pipes according to UNI 6363, hot galvanization by law UNI 5745 inside and outside, in steel Fe 410, diameter DN 150 (6") fringed ends covered externally with double bracing polyethylene coatings (R2R) according to Law UNI 9099, with a minimum length of 6 metres (six). Minimum thickness equal to millimetres 4,0 (four), major test pressure of 100 bar (minimum), straightness ≤ 0,2% measured on the entire length of the tube, tested according to the application law, with marking (including name of the Producer, Attachment Rule, steel quality, trademark):

Diameter 6".
Hose fitting.
Fixing material of the most suitable type.

Tubing from flood valves to sprinkler systems

Tubing without welding for water-pipes according to UNI 6363, hot galvanization by law UNI 5745 inside and outside, in steel Fe 410, diameter from DN 150 (6") to DN 30 (1") with fringed ends covered externally with double bracing polyethylene coatings (R2R) according to Law UNI 9099, with a minimum length of 6 metres (six). Minimum thickness equal to millimetres 4,9 (four), major test pressure of 100 bar (minimum), straightness ≤ 0,2% measured on the entire length of the tube, tested according to the application law, with marking (including name of the Producer, Attachment Rule, steel quality, trademark IGQ):

Diameter 6 " - 1 "..
Hose fitting.
Fixing material of the most suitable type.

Interception, retainer and drainage valves

Sphere valve DN 150 total passage monoblock straight route wafer split:

Lever hand control (interception system).
Body in steel ASTMA A 150.
Sphere in steel AISI 316.
Bar in steel AISI 316.
Seal in PTFE.
Fire safe design.
PN 16

Dormant retainer flap DN 150:

Wafer type.
Body in steel ASTMA A 182 F316.
Disk in steel ASTMA A 182 F316.
Suitable for the insertion between the flanges ANSI 150.

Sphere valve total threaded route:

Body in steel AISI 316.
Sphere in AISI 316.
Diameter ½".
Lever control.

Brief description of drawings

The further described figures are not represented in scale.

Figure 1 shows the scheme of the main deluge system components - P & I Diagram
Figure 2 shows the main deluge system components ; constructive scheme showing the fire-fighting water container holder and pumping station P & I Diagram
Figure 3_shows the scheme relative ti the fire-fighting system zone N-1, N, and N+1 relating to the storage-pumping and distributing system - Proper of the zones;
Figure 4 shows a section of the tunnel protected with the fire-fighting system according to the invention along the section A-A
Figure 5 shows a section of the tunnel protected with the fire-fighting device according to the invention along the section C-C
Figure 6 shows the distribution plan in the tunnel of the fire-fighting system according to the invention
Figure 7 shows a section of the tunnel protected with the fire-fighting system according to the invention along the section B-B and detail Y and X
In Figure 8 are carried back the different section of the pumps primal Holder and blending foam liquid station.
Figure 8A = 20' pumps primal "holder" and blending foam liquid station VIEWED BY "B".
Figure 8B =Pumps primal holder and blending station SECTION X-X;
Figure 8C =Pumps primal holder and blending station SIDE SECTION;
Figure 8D =Pumps primal holder and blending station SECTION Z-Z;
Figure 8E = pumps primal holder and blending station VIEWED BY "D".
Figure 8F =Pumps primal holder and blending station SECTION W-W;
Figure 8G =Pumps primal holder and blending station SECTION Y-Y;
Figure 8H = pumps primal holder and blending station VIEWED BY "C".
Figure 8I = pumps primal holder and blending station VIEWED BY "A".
Figure 8L = pumps primal holder and blending station VIEWED FROM ABOVE.
Figure 9 carry back the section X-X of the fire-fighting water storage tank holder and of the pumps primal holder and blending station . Proper for one zone
Figure 10 carry back the side view from the W angle of the fire-fighting water storage tank holder and of the pumps primal holder and blending station .
Figure 11 carry back view from above the fire-fighting water storage tank holder and the pumps primal holder and blending station .
Figure 12 shows the fire-fighting water storage tank holder - Proper for one zone - side A view
Figure 13 shows the fire-fighting water storage tank holder - side B view
Figure 14 shows the fire-fighting water storage tank holder - side C view
Figure 15 shows the fire-fighting water storage tank holder - view from above

Claims

Railway or urban subway's route tunnel with a rail in combination with a fire extinguishing device of deluge type, the fire extinguishing device comprising:
- at least one source of foam solution,

- at least a distributor system (4) of the aforesaid foam solution,

- at least a controlling device to regulate the flow placed on the distributor system (4) of the foam solution,

- a multiplicity of spray sprinklers (10) ;
and characterized by the fact that said sprinklers (10) are placed on the aforesaid distributor system (4) with an inclination comprised between 25-35° degree lying on a transversal section of the tunnel and defined between the axis (Z), perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (W) of the nozzle sprinkler, and a horizontal axis (K), said inclination distributing the extinguishing foam on the upper and lower part of a train loading gauge on the side where the passengers exiting is expected, allowing activation of the fire-fighting device in presence of voltage on a power rail, wherein a number of the multiplicity of sprinklers (10) are placed at a height equal to 3.660 - 4.060 m, and a further number of the multiplicity of sprinklers (10) is situated at a height equal to 1.440 - 1.840 m, such height being measured from the top of the rail guiding the wheels of the train.
Railway or urban subway's route tunnel with a rail in combination with a fire extinguishing device according to claim 1, where a plurality of said local switch controls are placed in the tunnel such that said people trying to evacuate from the tunnel can activate said fire-fighting device in every single section they are going through, said local switch controls comprising-switches placed on the sidewall of the tunnel.
Railway or urban subway's route tunnel with a rail in combination with a fire extinguishing device according to claim 1 and 2, where a remote position is adapted to command said activation of said sprinklers.
Railway or urban subway's route tunnel with a rail in combination with a fire extinguishing device according to one or more of the previous claims in which the aforesaid flow control device comprises at least a motorised flood valve (3).
Railway or urban subway's route tunnel with a rail in combination with a fire extinguishing device according to one or more of the previous claims in which the aforesaid flow control device comprises at least an upstream pressure controller (14) of the aforesaid motorised flood valve (3).
Railway or urban subway's route tunnel with a rail in combination with a fire extinguishing device according to one or more of the previous claims in which the aforesaid foam solution source comprises:
- at least a source of water,

- at least a pumping device (9),

- at least a blending device (8) of the foaming solution,

- at least a tank containing the concentrated foam liquid (7).
Railway or urban subway's route tunnel with a rail in combination with a fire extinguishing device according to claim 6, in which the aforesaid pumping device (9), blending device (8) of the foaming solution and the tank containing the concentrated foam liquid (7) are comprise in a sole holder, called " pumps primal holder and blending foam liquid stationary" (2) and the aforesaid source of water is a water storage tank contained in a holder called "fire-fighting water storage tank holder" (1).
Railway or urban subway's route tunnel with a rail in combination with a fire extinguishing device according to claim 6 or 7, in which the aforesaid concentrated foam liquid placed in the tank containing the concentrated foam liquid (7) is a biodegradable and film forming foam liquid AFFF type Fluorosynthetic film forming composed with hydrocarbons surfactants, which the dilution percentage inside the water for the usage is 6%.
Railway or urban subway's route tunnel with a rail in combination with a fire extinguishing device according to claim 7 or 8, in which the aforesaid pumping device (9) has a capacity of 2 m³ and the aforesaid fire-fighting water storage tank holder (1) has a capacity of 30 m³ to distribute foam along a zone of the tunnel long 400 - 460 m.
Railway or urban subway's route tunnel with a rail in combination with a fire extinguishing device comprising at least a first and at least a second fire-fighting device according to one or more previous claims, said first and said second devices being placed in an adjacent position and joined through collectors that allow the first fire-fighting device to work as a source of foam solution for the second fire-fighting device.
Railway or urban subway's route tunnel with a rail in combination with a fire extinguishing device according to claim 10, in which the local switch of the first fire-fighting device can be remotely-controlled.
Railway or urban subway's route tunnel with a rail in combination with a fire extinguishing device according to one or more of the previous claims in which the activation of the device happens manually through local switch control with switches placed on the sidewall of the tunnel or from remote location.