Underground road tunnel – air quality and associated environmental/health impact

• Main Author: Ang, Jian Yang
• Other Authors: Chang Wei-Chung
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Environmental engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/61106
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

According to a study in 2009, the ground level temperature in KPE tunnel ranges from 34.7 to 37.6°C. Such high tunnel air temperature will directly impact motorcyclist causing a decrease in mental and physical ability. In this report, experiment will be conducted to find out how much heat given out by individual vehicles. Two approaches to derive heat generated by vehicle is by finding out the heat generated by surface of the vehicle and exhaust gas coming out of the tail pipe. Results from the experiment were used to form analysis and it was observed that heat transfer from exhaust gas emission is a major contributor for the tunnel high temperature when compared to heat transferred from surface. Diesel vehicle tend to generate more exhaust gas than gasoline vehicle therefore is a major contributor to heat generated. It was observed that as travelling speed was higher, more heat is generated. In order to decrease heat generated in the tunnel, decrease of travelling speed may help but the decrease in heat generated is that significant. Another alternative is the introduction of electric vehicle to Singapore. Spreadsheets are used to simulate the traffic volume and composition in 2014, 2020, 2030 and in the far future 20XX. As the year increases, more electric vehicles will be introduced. By 20XX, all internal combustion engine vehicle on road will be replaced by electric vehicle. It was observed that doing so will decrease the heat generated by at least 4times of the projected heat generated of year 2014. It is up to the authorities of Singapore to educate the public the benefits of electric vehicles and construction of charging stations required for electric car in other to head towards an age of electric vehicles.