Guadarrama Tunnel Ventilation: Talleres Zitron’s Spain HS Rail Innovation

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Introduction

Talleres Zitron played a key role in the ventilation system for the Guadarrama Tunnel, a 28.4-kilometer railway tunnel and a critical element of Spain’s Madrid–Asturias high-speed rail line. This system was designed to ensure passenger safety and air quality.

Guadarrama Tunnel Overview

The Guadarrama Tunnel links Madrid to cities in northern and north-western Spain. It is a twin-bore tunnel, each with a cross-sectional area of 52 m², and it is the longest railway tunnel in Spain. Construction was completed in 2007. The tunnel is designed for high-speed trains traveling at speeds up to 310 km/h.

Ventilation System Design

The Guadarrama Tunnel’s ventilation system uses a Saccardo nozzle longitudinal ventilation system. This design was developed through Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. The system’s ventilation equipment is built to withstand the piston effect pressure of 10,000 Pascals generated by trains traveling at 310 km/h. Four ventilation stations were constructed at each tunnel portal, each with three 2-meter-diameter fans powered by 450 kW motors. Two main ventilation rooms with vertical shafts were also built at the portals, each housing three 2-meter-diameter fans with 560 kW motors. An insulated damper system allows each main station to supply air selectively to either the east or west tube.

Emergency Procedures

In an incident, the ventilation system switches to pressurization mode in the safe tube. The main ventilation station not supplying the incident tube instead supplies the safe tube, maintaining a positive pressure of 50 Pa relative to the fire-affected tube. Emergency passageways, spaced every 250 meters, allow passengers to evacuate to the safe tube.

Testing and Validation

Before the tunnel’s opening, full-scale ventilation tests were conducted to validate the CFD-based design. These tests measured airflow velocities, pressure differentials, and smoke dispersion, including fire events. Talleres Zitron provided technical expertise during these tests, which confirmed the effectiveness of the Saccardo nozzle solution.

Conclusion

The Guadarrama Tunnel’s ventilation system, designed by Talleres Zitron, enables effective smoke management and safe evacuation. The project demonstrated that even unconventional tunnel configurations can meet safety standards. This project highlights Talleres Zitron’s expertise in tunnel ventilation technology.

Company Summary

Talleres Zitron: A global leader in tunnel ventilation systems.

Technology

CFD: Computational Fluid Dynamics.

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