Almost all recently built subway stations are equipped with Platform Screen Doors (PSDs) due to the numerous proven benefits of these systems. In addition, PSDs are now being introduced in existing subway stations, but their operation in conjunction with previously designed ventilation systems in case of emergency should be deeply studied. In this context, the objective of this study is to assess the efficiency of the planned emergency strategy (coupled operation, ventilation systems–PSDs system) in the case of trains on fire stopped at the platform of a subway station retrofitted with PSDs. The approach is based on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) full-scale simulations to predict the airflow, temperature, and pollutant (carbon monoxide—CO and carbon dioxide—CO₂) concentrations caused by the fire. The results show the evident contribution of PSDs in stopping the dispersion of hot and polluted air in the subway station during the entire simulation time (20 min from the arrival of the train on fire). Consequently, the investigated emergency strategy (exhausting air both through the “over track system” and the “under platform system”, simultaneously with the opening of the PSDs on the side with the train on fire) assures the safe evacuation of passengers as soon as they have left the subway train. The results indicate that access to the platform is not perturbed by high temperatures or dangerous concentrations of CO and CO₂.

Solar air collectors are increasingly used nowadays due to their important potential in reducing the energy consumption of buildings. In this context, glazed transpired solar collectors (GTCs) represent an interesting solution, but this type of solar air collector is less studied. Consequently, the objective of this work is to thoroughly assess the performance of a GTC prototype under real long-term climatic conditions. First, the design of the GTC is optimized based on methodically experimental tests. The results show that the GTC configuration with a 30 mm air gap among the absorber and the glazing leads to improved heat transfer efficiency and superior global effectiveness, regardless of airflow rates through the solar air collector. This optimized GTC configuration is further studied by integration within the façade of a full-scale experimental building (container-type, light structure). Comparative experimental studies are then carried out concerning the heating energy consumption and ventilation load of the experimental building without/with GTC implemented in the ventilation system, under Bucharest real weather conditions. The data achieved indicate that the GTC prototype is capable of substantially reducing the ventilation load: up to 25% for low solar radiation (below 200 W/m²) and over 50% (achieving even 90%) for moderate solar radiation (between 250 and 380 W/m²). Finally, for high solar radiation (over 400 W/m²), the GTC outlet air temperature exceeds the interior temperature set-point (22 °C) of the experimental building.

Since the subway systems are constantly developing at a high rate to cope with the increasing number of commuters, their safety is a great challenge and extensive research was done to fulfil the safety regulations in this field. Numerical modelling represents a modern research method used more frequently in the academic environment over the last decades, being constantly validated through comparisons with results of other classical research methods. This paper presents a thorough analysis of the numerical studies on smoke evacuation in emergency situations from tunnels and subway stations, with a focus on the research concerning the use of platform screen doors (PSD) in emergency situations generated by fires. The numerical simulation software mostly used are Fire Dynamics Simulation and Ansys Fluent (based on Computational Fluid Dynamics modelling technique), their results being extensively compared with experiments and analytical formulae. Since most of the studies focus on determining the specific values of some fire related parameters (critical velocity of the ventilated air, backlayering distance of the smoke, maximum temperature in the smoke layer or maximum concentration of smoke pollutants), a lack of research regarding the efficient use of PSDs concomitant with the ventilation system in emergency mode has been identified.