AIR BAFFLES IN RAILROAD TUNNELS FOR DECREASED AIRFLOW THEREIN AND IMPROVED VENTILATION AND COOLING OF LOCOMOTIVES

摘要

Disclosed is a system and method for decreasing airflow and improvingventilation within a tunnel, such as a railroad tunnel, including a path formovement of avehicle (e.g., train) therethrough. The system has a plurality of air bafflesmountedwithin the tunnel, each device comprising a body and a mounting device. Eachmounting device positions each body inside and along the length of the tunnelbetweenthe entrance and the exit. The air baffles arc configured to restrict airflowat least in partin a longitudinal direction of the tunnel, thereby increasing a relativedifference betweena vehicle speed and air speed in a tunnel annulus when the vehicle passesthrough thetunnel. The restriction (e.g., decrease) of airflow in the tunnel reduces thepiston effectresulting from the vehicle or train passing through, thus reducing emissionsand heatgenerated by the locomotives in the tunnel.