• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.216-223
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• 2017

For the prediction of the ventilation rate for removing the non-isothermal concentrated fume from the semi-enclosed space, the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis was done. Securing the proper ventilation conditions in emergency state such as in fire is crucial factor for the protection of the resident in the space. In the analysis for the determining the proper ventilation rate, the experimental study had the limitation for simulating the versatile conditions of fume development. The theoretical and computational method had been chosen as the alternate tool for the experimental analysis. In this study, the CFD analysis was done on the defined model which already had been done the experimental analysis by the previous workers. By comparing the prediction on the plume heights and the ventilation rates by the CFD analysis at, and in the parametric model of $1m^3$ with those of the previous experimental works, the feasibility of the computational analysis was evaluated. For the required ventilation rate analyzed by the CFD analysis was over predicted in 7.1% difference with that of the experimental results depending on the different plume height. With the comparison with the analytical Zukoski model at, the CFD analysis on the ventilation was under predicted in 8.3%. By the verification of the feasibility of the CFD analysis, the extended analysis was done for getting the extra information such as the water vapor distribution and $CO^2$ distribution in the semi-enclosed spaces.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.55-64
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• 2024

As the distribution of vehicles and logistics increases due to the development of human civilization and the increase in population, various roads play an important role in domestic traffic and transportation. However, the recent emergence of large cities and new cities is causing traffic problems, and the increase in roads is inevitable for the smooth distribution of vehicles and logistics. In Korea, mountainous regions occupy 70% of the country, so tunnels are used to open roads. Without this, it is difficult to open the road. Currently, there are 3,720tunnels (as of December 31, 2023) installed on high-speed national highways, general national highways, and local roads nationwide, with a length of 2.499 and increasing every year. Accordingly, fire accidents in tunnels will also increase, and due to the nature of tunnel fire accidents, there is a high probability that they will escalate into large-scale disasters, resulting in casualties and property damage, as well as significant social losses due to the disruption of logistics transportation, etc. As the possibility of potential hazards is increasing, the purpose of this study is to build a safe and efficient tunnel system by optimizing maintenance and management for fire and disaster accidents in tunnels.

• The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.92-107
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• 2023

Recently, along with the continuous increase in the supply of electric vehicles, electric vehicle fire accidents are also showing a rapidly increasing trend. Electric vehicle fires last for a long time compared to fires in internal combustion engine vehicles and have problems with the risk of secondary explosions and the generation of large amounts of smoke. In particular, electric vehicle fires in underground roads, which are semi-enclosed spaces, may amplify the problems of existing electric vehicle fires. On the other hand, there are no domestic response guidelines for electric vehicle fires occurring inside underground roads. Therefore, an awareness of fire accidents was confirmed through a survey of the general public, and electric vehicle fire characteristics and primary considerations were derived from stakeholders related to electric vehicle fires in underpasses. Through this, the guidelines for responding to electric vehicle fires on underground roads were established.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.305-316
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• 2022

Hydrogen energy is emerging as an alternative to the depletion of fossil fuels and environmental problems, and the use of hydrogen vehicles is increasing in the automobile industry as well. However, since hydrogen has a wide flammability limit of 4 to 75%, there is a high concern about safety in case of a hydrogen car accident. In particular, in semi-enclosed spaces such as tunnels and underground parking lots, a fire or explosion accompanied by hydrogen leakage is highly likely to cause a major accident. Therefore, it is necessary to review hydrogen safety through analysis of flammability areas caused by hydrogen leakage. Therefore, in this study, the effect of the air velocity in the tunnel on the flammability area was investigated by analyzing the hydrogen concentration according to the hydrogen leakage conditions of hydrogen vehicles and the air velocity in the tunnel in a road tunnel with standard section. Hydrogen leakage conditions were set as one tank leaking and three tanks leaking through the TPRD at the same time and a condition in which a large crack occurred and leaked. And the air velocity in the tunnel were considered 0, 1, 2.5, and 4.0 m/s. As a result of the analysis of the flammability area, it is shown that when the air velocity of 1 m/s or more exists, it is reduced by up to 25% compared to the case of air velocity of 0 m/s. But there is little effect of reducing the flammability area according to the increase of the wind speed. In particular, when a large crack occurs and completely leaks in about 2.5 seconds, the flammability area slightly increases as the air velocity increases. It was found that in the case of downward ejection, hydrogen gas remains under the vehicle for a considerably long time.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.517-534
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• 2021

Hydrogen fuel is emerging as an new energy source to replace fossil fuels in that it can solve environmental pollution problems and reduce energy imbalance and cost. Since hydrogen is eco-friendly but highly explosive, there is a high concern about fire and explosion accidents of hydrogen fueled vehicles. In particular, in semi-enclosed spaces such as tunnels, the risk is predicted to increase. Therefore, this study was conducted on the applicability of the equivalent TNT model and the numerical analysis method to evaluate the hydrogen explosion pressure in the tunnel. In comparison and review of the explosion pressure of 6 equivalent TNT models and Weyandt's experimental results, the Henrych equation was found to be the closest with a deviation of 13.6%. As a result of examining the effect of hydrogen tank capacity (52, 72, 156 L) and tunnel cross-section (40.5, 54, 72, 95 m²) on the explosion pressure using numerical analysis, the explosion pressure wave in the tunnel initially it propagates in a hemispherical shape as in open space. Furthermore, when it passes the certain distance it is transformed a plane wave and propagates at a very gradual decay rate. The Henrych equation agrees well with the numerical analysis results in the section where the explosion pressure is rapidly decreasing, but it is significantly underestimated after the explosion pressure wave is transformed into a plane wave. In case of same hydrogen tank capacity, an explosion pressure decreases as the tunnel cross-sectional area increases, and in case of the same cross-sectional area, the explosion pressure increases by about 2.5 times if the hydrogen tank capacity increases from 52 L to 156 L. As a result of the evaluation of the limiting distance affecting the human body, when a 52 L hydrogen tank explodes, the limiting distance to death was estimated to be about 3 m, and the limiting distance to serious injury was estimated to be 28.5~35.8 m.