Structured Distribution of Electric Power Systems: the Architecture of a Roadway Tunnel

Modeling of the electric system "architecture" aims to achieve performances of safety, maintenance, operation and reliability. The paper discusses about the criteria in designing special cases, as roadway tunnels, that need a structured architecture complying with electrical loads extensively distributed and with installation requirements proper to external stresses hazard as fire hazard. Recommendations of mechanical and electrical criteria have to be graduated according to duty categories (as building occupancy in hospitals, strategic buildings or environment parameters for the road tunnels). Their consideration is essential for the settlement of the design criteria, which have to concern variable configurations to simplify installation problems, to allow a flexible operation and to optimize the cost-benefits efficiency. A special power distribution, "brush-distribution", is suitable for the strategic buildings with higher risk for seismic event and for the road tunnels against the fire, and restoration. The electrical power system of a roadway tunnel could raise high values with a relevant contribution by the mechanical ventilation and the support lighting. The authors suggest an adaptive criterion in designing the support lighting system in order to mitigate the cost and energetic impact