Suction and ventilation systems for sports fields
Syntech Engineering designs and builds suction and ventilation systems installed under the natural grass surface of stadiums and sports fields. A single network of ducts under the pitch performs two opposite functions: when it rains it extracts excess water, keeping the pitch dry and playable; in hot weather the air flow is reversed and the system blows air into the subsoil, cooling the ground and oxygenating the roots of the turf.
The problem: rain, heat and turf health
A natural grass pitch suffers in two opposite conditions. During heavy rain, water stagnates in the subsoil, the ground compacts and playability is at risk. In summer heat the roots are starved of oxygen, the ground retains heat and the turf degrades quickly. Passive drainage systems alone are not enough: an active system is needed, able to work in both directions.
How the system works
The system consists of ventilation units connected to the drainage network under the pitch. In suction mode the fans create a vacuum in the subsoil and extract rainwater through the ducts; an air/water separator with special-profile fins, with a separation efficiency of 97%, discharges the water and returns clean air.
In blowing mode a set of automatic servo-controlled dampers reverses the air path: the system feeds air into the subsoil, cooling the ground and bringing oxygen to the root system of the turf.
Operation is fully automatic: IP65 electrical panels with inverter, PLC and touch screen panel control the system based on a rain sensor, pitch temperature probes at several points and levels, external and recirculated air temperature, fan capacity and pressure, with dedicated seasonal programs (winter, spring, summer, autumn, snow). Through a dedicated account the system can be managed remotely from a PC or smartphone, with the same pages as the operator panel on the main electrical cabinet.
The machines are made of antistatic polypropylene (PPS) and AISI 304/316 stainless steel, suitable for outdoor installation, and are assembled on skid structures to simplify transport and installation. A typical system for a football pitch uses two electric fans of 15,000 cu.m/h each, for a total capacity of 30,000 cu.m/h with a head of 450 mm H2O.
The San Siro project
Under the pitch of the San Siro stadium in Milan runs a subsoil suction system designed, built and installed by Syntech Engineering in 2018, which Syntech still maintains and services today. When it rains, the system creates a vacuum in the drainage network under the turf and extracts excess water, keeping the pitch dry and playable.
For the same installation Syntech has also developed an upgrade project adding the blowing mode, based on automatic dampers to reverse the air path and full remote management of the system from PC and smartphone.
The same technology has been proposed for international stadiums and sports grounds, from football to cricket, and can be applied to any natural grass field: football, rugby, cricket, golf.
