Front cover of ICE Proceedings journal Engineering Sustainability

Tunnel Energy Segments

Document type: Journal Publication
Author: Mike de Silva BSc PhD FCIWEM MIEEM CSci C.WEM, ICE Publishing
Publication Date: 30/06/2014

  • Abstract

    Significant heat is generated by underground trains, particularly when braking, stopping at platforms and accelerating away from stations. A complex ventilation system including shaft, fans and under-platform extraction  has to be designed to manage the rising temperature in tunnels and stations. This conventional approach results in high energy consumption for running the fans and neglects the possibility to use the extracted heat above ground in buildings. Lining underground rail tunnels with heat-exchange segments can provide an alternative solution to cool the tunnels and surrounding ground, and transfer the harvested heat to adjacent buildings for heating. It will also bring benefits in terms of reduction of energy consumption for tunnel ventilation operations. This paper reports on the work carried out in designing thermal energy segments for use on the tunnelled sections of Crossrail.

    This paper has been published in ICE Journal Engineering Sustainability 167 June 2014 Issue ES3 and the full paper can be accessed here.

  • Authors
    Photo of Mike DaSilva

    Mike de Silva BSc PhD FCIWEM MIEEM CSci C.WEM - Bechtel

    Sustainability Manager

    Mike has over 25 years of environmental and sustainability design and construction experience much of which has been gained in the rail industry. He has worked on the two largest rail link projects in the United Kingdom, Crossrail and High Speed 1. Mike worked as Sustainability Manager on the Crossrail between 2009 and 2017 and was responsible for delivering its sustainability strategy and reporting as well as leading on CEEQUAL and BREEAM project management, and had an assurance role on the management & measurement of the project’s carbon footprint. He is currently working on HS2 Phase 2b.

    He is well known in the industry and has published a number of works including the well reviewed Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors publication “Sustainability & the Property Lifecycle”. He has also sat on a number of working groups including CEEQUAL International, BREEAM Infrastructure and BES6001 a voluntary standard on responsible sourcing of construction materials & products, and is currently on the editorial panel for the ICE Journal, Engineering Sustainability.