High speed passenger elevator is vital in modern buildings. They save time and improve efficiency. But they also face many challenges.
This paper explores top 10 questions in high-speed elevators. We look at safety risks and comfort. If you design or use elevators, this study is for you. Learn how to make elevators faster and safer.
Keep reading to discover key insights. Let's improve the future of vertical transportation together!
1. What is main difference between high speed passenger elevator and traditional elevator?
It (speeds ≥ 2.5 m/s) lies in technology integration and safety performance.
● Drive system: Permanent-magnet synchronous gearless traction machines, improving efficiency by over 30%. Traditional elevator mostly rely on geared traction, which has speed limitations.
● Safety design: They are equipped with multiple braking systems (such as electromagnetic braking and hydraulic buffering). Cabin air pressure regulation devices to prevent ear discomfort.
● Intelligent control: AI-based group control systems optimize scheduling in real time. Itreducing waiting times. For example, FUJI Elevator's AI prediction algorithm can reduce energy consumption by 20%.
● Material upgrades: Lightweight carbon fiber cars + steel structure hoistways balance strength and speed.
2. Does operating speed of high speed passenger elevator affect safety?
The safety is not directly related to their speed.
Modern high-speed elevators adopt multiple safety guarantee systems, including:
● Dual braking systems: Electromagnetic and mechanical brakes work together to ensure safe stops.
● Speed monitoring devices: They monitor operating speeds and trigger protection mechanisms if speeds exceed limits.
● Emergency rescue system: They are equipped with backup power supplies and automatic leveling functions.
3. What are the building structure requirements for high speed passenger elevator?
Key points including:
● Hoistway strength: Concrete or steel structure hoistways are needed. Buffer pits (depth ≥ 1.5 m) to handle high-speed strokes.
● Guide rail precision: Installation errors within ±0.5 mm/m to avoid vibrations.
● Ventilation and sound insulation: Hoistways need pressurization to prevent dust and sound-absorbing materials (such as mineral wool) to reduce noise propagation.
● Hoistway stiffness: Concrete hoistway thickness should be ≥ 300 mm (200 mm for ordinary elevators), with a reinforcement ratio increased to 1.2%.
● Resonance avoidance: Modal analysis is required to ensure natural frequency differs from operating frequency by more than 3 Hz.
● Buffer space: Pit depth should be 1.5 times speed (eg 6 m/s elevator requires a 9-meter pit).
4. How do super high-rise buildings address air pressure changes?
For buildings over 100 m, the following measures are taken:
● Active air pressure compensation systems: They automatically adjust the air pressure difference inside and outside the car based on altitude.
● Ear pressure balancing technology: The car's internal air pressure changes gradually (≤ 50 Pa/s).
● Dedicated ventilation systems: They provide 30 air changes per hour.
● Air pressure monitoring devices: They display real-time air pressure change curves.
5. What types of buildings are high speed passenger elevator suitable for?
Mainly suitable for:
● Building height: For buildings under 100 m, speeds of 3~5 m/s. For super high-rise 300 m+ building, speeds ≥ 8 m/s.
● Large commercial complexes: Shopping malls and subway stations. A large volume of people need to be transported quickly.
● High-end residences: Luxury apartments and other projects that prioritize comfort and efficiency.
● Customized requirements: Special requirements such as earthquake resistance and fire resistance need to be communicated in advance.
6. What are customization options for high speed passenger elevator?
Different customers have different elevator needs, and we can provide the following customization services:
● Speed customization: We offer different speed options such as 3 m/s, 6 m/s, and 10 m/s based on building height.
● Car design: Personalized configurations such as luxury interiors, intelligent displays, and voice control.
● Intelligent control: Features like face recognition, mobile app summoning, and AI group control scheduling.
● Special safety functions: Fire modes, VIP exclusive modes, and anti-virus air purification systems.
7. How is the riding comfort of high speed passenger elevator addressed?
Comfort depends on technical details:
● Acceleration control: S-curve start and braking algorithms are used, with acceleration ≤ 1.2 m/s² (to avoid ear discomfort).
● Active guide shoes: Hydraulic guide wheels compensate for guide rail deviations to ensure smooth rides.
● Air pressure regulation: Car sealing design + automatic pressure relief valves alleviate ear pressure changes (especially in super high-rise buildings).
8. How is the noise problem of high speed passsenger elevator solved?
We use five noise reduction technologies to ensure comfort:
● Active vibration reduction systems: They monitor and cancel out vibration sources in real time.
● Car acoustic treatment: 36 dB soundproofing materials + sound-absorbing structural designs.
● Guide rail noise reduction technology: High-polymer composite material guide rail pads.
● Airflow optimization design: Car shapes optimized through wind tunnel testing.
● Variable frequency silent drives: Smooth transitions from 0 to maximum speed.
9. How is the vibration problem of high speed passenger elevator solved?
Vibration control is one of the three major technical challenges of high-speed elevators (the other two being noise and air pressure).
A four-stage vibration reduction solution is adopted:
● Hydraulic-rubber composite shock absorbers are installed at the bottom of the car to attenuate low-frequency vibrations.
● High-polymer damping gaskets are used at guide rail connections to absorb high-frequency micro-vibrations.
● An AI-based active vibration suppression system is developed to adjust the traction machine's output torque in real time through acceleration sensors inside the car.
● Guide shoes use polyurethane-coated ceramic sliders with a stable friction coefficient of 0.08 ± 0.01.
Actual measurement data shows that this solution can keep the vibration acceleration of a 5 m/s elevator ≤ 15 cm/s². A project in Singapore even maintained vibration values below 12 cm/s² during typhoon weather.
10. How long is the installation period for high speed passenger elevator?
The installation time depends on the building structure and elevator model, usually following this process:
Installation period (reference):
● 30-60-story buildings: About 3~6 months (including commissioning).
● 100+ stories buildings: About 6~12 months.
Optimization solutions:
● Segmented installation: Simultaneously with building construction to reduce delays.
● Pre-assembly technology: Core components are pre-assembled in the factory.