Elevator Traffic Analysis
Analyzing elevator traffic is crucial, depending on the type of use, before its construction and operation. This issue needs to be considered during the initial design phases to ensure user comfort by accounting for the level of elevator usage, peak hours, and critical times.
Through traffic analysis and appropriate design, it is possible to prevent improper passenger movements at the elevator door and minimize passenger waiting time by optimally allocating the doors. This analysis, which involves examining the elevator’s round-trip time (RTT), is essential.
Currently, many commercial buildings, medical facilities, and offices face issues due to neglecting these important factors, leading to poor service quality and customer dissatisfaction. It is recommended that all traffic and passenger movement factors be carefully considered in the design to ensure service delivery with minimal waiting time and maximum comfort for users.
Ultimately, the capacity and speed of the elevator must be determined based on the building’s height, population, and intended use. This can be achieved through collaboration between architects and elevator experts to provide efficient solutions.
Factors Influencing Elevator Traffic Calculation
Passengers in an elevator experience both physical and psychological pressures. Physical pressures include speed, jolts from changes in acceleration and deceleration, and positive and negative accelerations. Experts suggest that the cabin acceleration, the amount of jolting, and the travel time should not exceed 2.5 meters per square second, 1.5 times acceleration, and 3 minutes, respectively.
The process of boarding passengers and making stops involves several stages: boarding at the main station, closing the doors and moving to the first stop, opening the doors for passengers to enter and exit, closing the doors and proceeding to the next stop, repeating the boarding and alighting process until reaching the top floor, closing the doors and moving downwards, with potential stops along the way, and finally, complete passenger disembarkation. Incorrect calculations of speed, cabin dimensions, and the number of elevators can lead to reduced service quality. These issues arise when the capacity and ability to move passengers are not accurately determined.
Key factors in determining elevator capacity include passenger waiting times and round-trip speed between floors and the main station. These factors depend on carrying capacity, elevator performance, building type, and control systems. Poor elevator design can cause disruptions in passenger waiting times and movement, especially during peak traffic hours.
The fundamentals of elevator traffic calculation involve door opening and closing times, cabin running time, and the time passengers enter and exit the cabin. These times are influenced by cabin capacity and the number of passengers. The quality of elevator service is largely determined by the length of passenger waiting times—the shorter the wait, the better the service. Specialized tables and standards aid accurate waiting time calculations.
The type and width of elevator doors should be chosen based on passenger needs and the intended use of the elevator, ensuring smooth and trouble-free passenger entry and exit. Peak traffic times in office buildings typically occur in the morning, at lunch, and at the end of the workday. In residential buildings, peak times are more common in the morning and evening. Accurate analysis of these times can optimize elevator usage.
For improving elevator traffic, detailed planning and continuous analysis are essential. Specialized companies in elevator design can provide appropriate solutions, enhancing the experience for residents and visitors.
Five-Minute Critical Period
The term Handing Capacity (HC) refers to the elevator’s capacity to transport passengers during the “five-minute critical period.” This time typically corresponds to the peak usage period in a building. The calculation involves the number of passengers per trip (P) and the round-trip time (R.T.T) of the elevator.
For practical considerations, the number of people using the elevator is typically estimated at 1.75 people per room, with a usage rate of 6%. The quality of service improves with shorter waiting times (I). Generally, a waiting time of 60 seconds is considered acceptable for residential buildings, while a waiting time of 30 seconds is preferred for commercial and office buildings.
Probability of Stopping at Floors
The likelihood of an elevator stopping on various floors depends on the elevator’s capacity (P), the number of floors above the ground floor (N), and the probability of stopping (S).
For example, in a building with ten floors above the ground floor and an elevator with a capacity of 8 people, the elevator is expected to make an average of 5.7 stops per trip. Given the elevator’s capacity, it is assumed that approximately 2 people disembark at each stop.
Passenger Boarding and Alighting Time
The time required for passengers to board and alight from the elevator varies depending on the type of door. For instance, elevators with centrally opening doors of 120 cm width have specific times detailed in engineering standards. Different door types and widths come with specific correction factors. The most efficient door type for elevators is the centrally opening door, followed by telescopic doors, and lastly, hinged doors. Centrally opening doors are considered the standard and offer the quickest operation for opening and closing.
Example: For the boarding and alighting of 4 passengers at a stop, the time for alighting is 4 seconds (2 seconds per passenger), and the boarding time is 7 seconds (4 seconds for the first passenger, with an additional 3 seconds for subsequent passengers). These times are specified in a scheduling table, which also includes a preparation time of 0.5 seconds for the elevator to start moving. Although using cabins without doors can reduce the time spent opening and closing doors, they do not meet safety standards.
Elevator Travel Time
The travel time of elevators at various speeds and distances is specified in engineering standards, where the distance between two stops is considered to be 9.1 meters. If the distance between two stops is greater, the following formula can be used to calculate the time between stops.
where T is the total travel time, X is the distance between two floors, Vmax is the maximum speed of the elevator, and t1 is the time taken to travel 1.9 meters.
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