ODES Solutions for High-Humidity Subway Environments

TonyZhang
Sep 14
2 min read

Emergency Response in a Metro Project

Several years ago, during commissioning of a metro (subway) line in southwest China, our integrator partner reported widespread control-component failures. The cause: severe condensation in a high-humidity tunnel environment.

When our engineers arrived, the situation was clear—devices looked as though they had been immersed in water, covered with condensation. The equipment had been stored underground for over six months before energization, continuously exposed to moisture.

To address this, ODES rapidly redesigned components using specialized manufacturing processes. Optimized for metro tunnel conditions, these products ensured stable operation under high humidity, enabling successful commissioning and acceptance.

Application Challenge: Humidity in Metro Projects

In metro construction, cabinets are often delivered months before energization. During storage in underground tunnels, relative humidity remains high, leading to condensation on secondary components. When energized, this moisture causes:

Component failures through short circuits or dielectric breakdown.
Economic loss from scrapped devices.
Project delays affecting overall schedule.
Increased maintenance costs, placing pressure on contractors and operators.

ODES Solution: Designed for High-Humidity Conditions

ODES developed component manufacturing processes tailored for humid environments, ensuring resilience against condensation. These solutions safeguard stable operation of control devices in tunnels and other moisture-prone locations.

Proven Performance in Metro Projects

ODES control components have been successfully deployed in major metro systems across China, including:

Nanjing, Chengdu, Nanchang, Wuhan, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Wuhu, and Suzhou metros.

These deployments demonstrate both technical robustness and customer value, confirming ODES as a trusted supplier for challenging metro environments.

Humidity and condensation are critical risks in metro projects. With specialized design and field-proven solutions, ODES ensures reliable operation of secondary components in harsh underground environments.

📩 Facing humidity challenges in your projects?

Contact us at tonyzhang@odes.com.cn or visit at https://www.odes-electric.com/ for tailored solutions and technical support.