Improving thermal environment and ventilation efficiency in high-temperature excavation tunnels via an innovative heat insulation and cooling baffle

An increasing number of tunnels inevitably encounter high-temperature environments induced by elevated geotemperatures. The energy demand for ventilation and cooling in excavation tunnels increases significantly as the temperature of the surrounding rock increases, thereby hindering the sustainable exploitation of deep resources. This paper presents an optimization method for airflow organization in excavation tunnels that integrates thermal insulation and cooling (TIC) baffles. The proposed approach significantly improves the cooling effect of the auxiliary ventilation system while reducing energy consumption. This method offers the advantages of simplicity, convenience, and cost-effectiveness. A multifield coupling model using COMSOL software was developed and validated to analyze the system, and the application scenario was explored. Several ventilation scenarios were examined, highlighting that TIC baffles effectively reduce the heat release from the surrounding rock and lower the airflow temperature in personnel areas in the excavation tunnel. By implementing TIC baffles, the average airflow temperature in the excavation tunnel decreases by 1.5 °C to 1.8 °C, resulting in a saving of approximately 5.11 kW in cooling energy. Increasing the circulating water flow in the heat-exchange pipe of the TIC baffles or reducing the initial circulating water temperature can enhance the cooling capacity of the TIC baffles and lower the tunnel airflow temperature to a certain extent. The distance between the TIC baffles and surrounding rock significantly affects the airflow temperature between the left and right TIC baffles. An excessive length of TIC baffles (L > 7 m) leads to heat accumulation and high-temperature airflow in localized areas. In This study, a method for optimizing the thermal environment and saving energy in high-temperature excavation tunnels is proposed. © 2024 Elsevier Ltd.