Launching of the project of innovation 'etúnel-air'

Ferrovial Agroman, together with the area of Innovation of Corporation, have launched the project of Innovation 'etúnel-air' in the work of new construction of the tunnel of Padornelo. 'Etúnel-Air' develops a system automated and intelligent of measurement that ensures the suitable conditions of air in tunnel for the personnel of the works.

This project has carried out together with specialists of the Steering of railway industry industrys and Transports, of the works of Tunnel of Padornelo and Tunnel of the Espiño, of the Service of Machinery and of the Department of R&D of Ferrovial Agroman. 'Etúnel-Air' consists in the design and manufacture of a prototype of system automated of measurement and dilution of gases that will be validated in the real stage of the tunnel of Padornelo, in the line of BIRD Madrid – Galicia. The project will have a length of 18 months.

This initiative supposes an innovative advance in the construction of tunnels by means of the traditional method in Spain, since it poses a system based in keeping a continuous control on the parameters of quality of the air in the interior of the tunnel and an automatic regulation of the discharges of air in function of the real needs of dilution of gases in each moment, with the consistent improvement of the conditions of work and of the energetic efficiency of the installation.

The system of control 'etúnel-air' will be designed under the premises of versatility and replicabilidad, of such form that can be used in future tunnels of new construction, independently of the characteristics of these, so as to move this innovation to those that subterranean works was possible.

The projects of construction of subterranean works contemplate the measurement of gases during the execution of the works. To unque use rules of reference (mainly mining), as well as regulations and recommendations of best practices, does not exist a specific regulation to apply in tunnels under construction in Spain.