Piston effect

Version 0 / December 2011

Schindler | Top Range Division | BS-M03-V00 | Page 1
Piston effect
What is the piston effect?

- Piston effect is a common term

in the high-rise elevator business
- An elevator is compared to a
piston
- Compressed air
- The piston effect might becomes a
problem with higher speed
- Pressure difference depends on
- Airtightness of shaft
- Traveling speed
- Car / shaft size ratio
- Car shape
- Piston effect may not be confused
with stack effect

Schindler | Top Range Division | BS-M03-V00 | Page 2

Piston effect
Consequences of piston effect

- Flowing air around the car creates turbulences, affecting riding

quality noise level in the car.

- Air-pressure will affect the landing doors, thus creating an

unpleased whistle.

- These physical effects may have an unpleased impact to the

passengers. As a possible consequence, the down-speed may
have to be reduced.

Schindler | Top Range Division | BS-M03-V00 | Page 3

Piston effect
Impact of car- / shaft ratio
- High pressure differences lead to high air flow velocities around the car
- One of the main parameters to determine air flow velocity in elevator
shafts is the shaft ratio RA
- RA = Area (car + car door) / Area (shaft)

Piston effect measures

required if following
RA-values are exceeded

Speed (m/s) RA (-)

3.0 > 0.56
3.5 > 0.50
4.0 > 0.42
>4.0 10.0 always
required

Schindler | Top Range Division | BS-M03-V00 | Page 4

Piston effect
Measures to reduce impact of piston effect

Close cooperation with customer is required in order to discuss optimum

solutions.

- Air-ducts between shafts.

- Air ducts into shafts of firemen elevators are not feasible.

- Air fairings on top and bottom of car.

- Car door front sealing.

- Shaft door covering.

Schindler | Top Range Division | BS-M03-V00 | Page 5

Piston effect
Location of air ducts (1)

- Air ducts can be foreseen in shaft pits, shaft heads and in-between.
- A single shaft can be connected with an adjacent shaft.
- Below figure shows an intershaft air duct for a quadruplex group,
separated into four single shafts with partition walls.

Top and bottom vents Top, bottom and intermediate vents

Schindler | Top Range Division | BS-M03-V00 | Page 6

Piston effect
Location of air ducts (2)

- For elevator shafts separated by a partition wall, air ducts (top,

intermediate, bottom) shall be placed close to the rear wall (see below
sketch).
- The picture shows typical air ducts in a single high-speed elevator shaft.

Schindler | Top Range Division | BS-M03-V00 | Page 7

Piston effect
Size of air ducts

Air ducts shall be made according to below sketch.

As a rule of thumb, the minimum area of air ducts is calculated as follows:

- Top air duct A >= 0.5 x car width x car depth
- Total of all intermediate air ducts A >= 0.5 x car width x car depth
- Bottom air duct A >= 0.5 x car width x car depth

Schindler | Top Range Division | BS-M03-V00 | Page 8

Piston effect
Conclusion

Measures to reduce impact of piston

effect have to be discussed between
the customer and Schindler at tender
stage already

Schindler | Top Range Division | BS-M03-V00 | Page 9