ABB, a Trusted Partner in Tunnel Ventilation in Canada

May 20, 2022

DCS ABB A Trusted Partner in Tunel Ventilation in Canada 1 400

The safety and well-being of tunnel users depend on excellent ventilation. With its compact electric drives, ABB helps designers and operators of major infrastructures to meet the major technical challenges.

Ventilate better to protect better

Ventilation systems in tunnels first intend to protect their users' health and safety. Under normal circumstances, ventilation limits the concentration of pollutant emissions from motor vehicles and ensures good visibility. However, ventilation is part of the extinguishing system when a dangerous condition occurs, such as a fire. It removes smoke and heat from the tunnel, maintains escape routes and allows emergency services to access the incident site.

In 1999, a truck accident in the Mont Blanc tunnel caused a major fire. One of the leading causes was an insufficient smoke ventilation system. This unfortunate incident prompted France to inspect all its tunnels over 300 meters and review its safety standards, and many countries followed suit.

ABB meets ventilation challenges in Montreal and Toronto

In Canada, ABB proudly contributes to the safety of the Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine tunnels in Montreal and the Crosslinx project in Toronto by installing its ACS880-17 and ACS880-37 series drives.

Reliability, an essential ally

Tunnels are critical infrastructures that provide essential transport connections for the local, national, and even international economy. Therefore, they must be safe and available, always. Controlling operational risks, such as ventilation failure in an emergency, must be supported by reliable facilities.

The technical challenges of ventilation

The tunnel ventilation system presents numerous technical challenges, including rapid braking and reversing direction in an emergency. ABB drives, such as our ACS880-17 ultra-low harmonic and regenerative drives, can stop and restart fans in less than 10 seconds feeding braking energy back to the grid - a blazing speed. Furthermore, these compact drives are ideal for tight spaces, which is often the case in tunnel infrastructure.

Global guidelines and standards for tunnel fans specify the time and temperature at which they must operate under extreme conditions. Particular attention is paid to acceleration and braking times. For example, motors must be tested in accordance with EN 12101-3, which is considered the most demanding standard for smoke extraction.

Promoting energy efficiency

Ventilation systems in tunnels can be incredibly energy-intensive and expensive. Ensuring the energy efficiency of such projects is a priority. Adjusting the speed of a fan according to demand is a sensible use of energy. ABB drives, equipped with high-efficiency motors (up to IE5), control the fans' speed according to the tunnel's air pollution.

Our variable speed drives can generally reduce energy consumption by 20 to 60% compared to fans operating at nominal speed.

They are also equipped with temperature monitoring, overload, overcurrent, under/overvoltage and other protections and warnings to prevent control failures in ventilation systems. In addition to these features, the drive contains a fire override mode, which promotes safe evacuation in the event of a fire, and a real-time clock, which indicates the incidence of events by tracking failures. Our ACS880-37 ultra-low harmonics (ULH) drives guarantee the quality of power supply on the tunnel network, ensuring the reliability of the electrical system and equipment – the electrical harmonics are taken to a minimum of 3%, and voltage drops over long tunnel cables are compensated with a drive-based voltage boost feature, so ventilation runs smoothly 24/7.

Security and efficiency

ABB's variable speed drives combined with accessible customer service help designers and operators of large infrastructure projects to ensure the safety and well-being of their users while improving the energy efficiency of their infrastructure.

Source

Put to the Ultimate Test – Part 1: Torsion Tests by HELUKABEL

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Cables and wires in industrial robots and other moving machine parts are often required to withstand extreme stresses caused by torsion. Constant repetitive movements put materials under considerable strain. At the same time, operators expect components to function perfectly and reliably throughout their entire service life to avoid disruptions, outages and safety hazards.

For this reason, at HELUKABEL, we simulate intensive and continuous torsion stresses under realistic conditions with our high-tech testing equipment in Windsbach. We have several types of apparatus for doing this because some of our customers, for example those in the automotive industry, have very precise specifications for how a torsion test is carried out. The tests show that our cables and wires withstand speeds up to 1,000°/s, accelerations up to 2,000°/s² and torsion angles up to 720°. Hence, we make sure that each product always meets our customers’ high standards, and that they receive the impeccable quality they rightly expect from us as a leading supplier of cables, wires and accessories for more than 40 years.

What Is Torsion?

To learn the answer, click here

30 Minute Live Webinar 2:30 PM ET January 19th, 2023

With PC-based automation, you can implement applications and solutions that far exceed the functions of a classic controller. SIMATIC PC-based products offer you a flexible, innovative platform with long-term availability that give you a home field advantage when meeting the challenges of the digital factory for your machines and plants.

Festo Didactic at the Forefront of Developing Canada’s Future Work Force

DCS Festo Didactic at the Forefront of Developing Canadas Future Workforce 1 400x275

With Canadian manufacturing suffering from a growing labour shortage, the participation of industry in skills development is emerging as a vital component in hiring and retention.

The needs are stark: The Canadian Exporters and Manufacturers Association says almost 40% of its members have jobs they can’t fill. Five years from now, 60% expect to be short-staffed, especially when it comes to skilled trades. Statistics Canada forecasts the country’s labour force growth rate will remain below 0.2% for the rest of the decade, below replacement levels.

This growing shortage is affecting companies of all sizes. Already, some manufacturers acknowledge losing out on contracts because they can’t find the manpower to fulfill them.

In reality, the challenge is two-fold: to replenish and expand the workforce to help close the gap between the number of job seekers and vacancies through 2030 when the last baby boomers reach age 65, and ensure workers get opportunities throughout their careers to upgrade or add to their skillset as current technologies evolve and new ones emerge. Festo, through Festo Didactic, one of the world leading provider of equipment and solutions for technical education, intends to help Canada meet this challenge on both fronts. In essence, the approach Festo has always taken is that the learning never stops.

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