Fire Suppression Soundproof Tunnel

Fire suppression system for PMMA soundproof tunnels using rainwater collection to spray sound barriers near thermal hotspots

This technology features a soundproof tunnel fire suppression system that uses gutters sloped toward the center to collect rainwater into a storage tank via collection pipes. When the roof-mounted spray system detects a fire, a control module manages the tank water levels and directs the spray to extinguish the flames.

While soundproof tunnels are effective at blocking traffic noise for high-rise urban residential areas, the commonly used PMMA material is lighter and cheaper than tempered glass but highly flammable. Existing technologies that recycle rainwater for firefighting lack systems to manage stored water or prevent fire from spreading to combustible sound panels, posing a significant risk of fire escalation.

This technology uses a separator in a Y-shaped pipe to divert rainwater once the tank is full, and automatically flushes stagnant water after a month of storage to replace it with fresh rain. Thermal imaging is divided into a grid to identify road and sound barrier zones; if a fire is detected, the system prioritizes spraying the adjacent sound barriers to create a firebreak. A rotating filter on the gutter drain clears debris when its weight exceeds a threshold, and the system detects clogs by comparing tank levels with actual rainfall. Applicable to urban highway tunnels, bridge sound barriers near apartments, and railway tunnels, this system enables initial response using rainwater without a dedicated water supply, wetting fire spread paths before flames reach combustible panels.

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Key Features:

• Rainwater gutters formed on the soundproof tunnel roof, sloped to direct water to a central drain hole and equipped with a debris filter
• Collection pipes using a separator within a Y-shaped pipe connected to a main pipe to direct rainwater to either the storage tank or an external outlet
• Spray system including thermal cameras to detect fire and spray nozzles to discharge stored rainwater
• Control module that divides thermal images into a grid to identify fire locations, sets adjacent sound barriers as containment zones, and prioritizes spraying those areas

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This invention was developed with support from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's project for developing technologies to reduce road surface hazards that cause traffic accidents.

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