Tecnologías que transforman la forma en que las personas se mueven en los edificios

El autor de este artículo analiza los factores que impulsan el desarrollo de la tecnología VT.

por Rajnikant Lad

The rapid growth of construction activities, urbanization and infrastructure development has significantly increased the demand for elevators and escalators worldwide. Changing building designs, increasing urban density and the trend toward high-rise and supertall structures have compelled the vertical-transportation (VT) industry to continuously innovate and adopt advanced technologies.

Gone are the days when most projects required elevators operating at speeds of only 1 m/s or 2 m/s with a limited number of units. Today, the increasing height and complexity of buildings have pushed elevator speeds beyond 20 m/s in some of the world's tallest towers. Modern market requirements, user expectations, energy efficiency goals and the need for faster project delivery are driving technological advancements across the VT industry.

Major Technological Advances in VT

1) Gearless Drive Technology

The introduction of gearless traction machines has been one of the most significant developments in elevator technology.

Beneficios:

• Mayor eficiencia energética.
• Requisitos de espacio reducidos
• Menores requisitos de mantenimiento
• Mayor vida útil
• Funcionamiento más suave y silencioso
• Calidad de conducción mejorada

Today, gearless drives have become the preferred choice for most passenger elevators, particularly in medium and high-rise buildings.

2) PU-Coated Flat Ropes (Flat Belts)

Conventional steel wire ropes are increasingly being replaced by polyurethane (PU)-coated flat ropes in modern elevator systems.

Características Clave:

• High-strength steel cords embedded within a polyurethane coating
• Radio de curvatura más pequeño
• Reduced weight compared to conventional ropes

Ventajas:

• Smaller traction sheaves and machine sizes
• Reduced motor power requirements
• Menor consumo de energía.
• Reduced wear on pulleys
• Rendimiento de tracción mejorado
• Niveles más bajos de vibración y ruido
• Mayor comodidad de marcha
• Mayor vida útil
• Enhanced resistance to corrosion and wear

Flat rope technology has enabled the design of more compact and efficient elevator systems.

3) Fiber Rope Technology

The introduction of fiber ropes is expected to be a game-changing development for the elevator industry.

Ventajas:

• Significantly lighter than steel ropes
• Reduced machine and motor loading
• Menor consumo de energía.
• Reduced rope sway
• Longer travel capability
• Improved performance in high-rise applications

Fiber rope technology is helping overcome the limitations imposed by the self-weight of conventional steel ropes and is enabling the development of taller buildings.

4) CNT Suspension Technology

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are microscopic cylindrical structures made from carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal pattern. They are among the strongest and lightest materials known and are being actively researched for future elevator applications.

Beneficios potenciales:

• Relación resistencia-peso extremadamente alta
• Dramatic reduction in rope weight
• Lower motor power requirements
• Increased travel heights
• Reduced rope sway
• Mayor eficiencia energética

In supertall buildings, the weight of steel ropes becomes a major design limitation. CNT-based suspension systems could potentially eliminate this challenge and enable much taller elevator travel distances.

CNT technology also gained attention through theoretical concepts such as the "Space Elevator," which proposes a cable extending from Earth into space.

5) Linear Motor Elevators

Linear motor technology represents one of the most revolutionary developments in VT.

Unlike conventional traction elevators, linear motor systems use electromagnetic forces to move the elevator car directly.

Características Clave:

• No traction ropes
• No counterweights in certain designs
• Direct electromagnetic propulsion

Ventajas:

• Elimination of rope weight limitations
• No rope stretch
• No traction loss
• Reduced rope sway and oscillation
• Improved performance in seismic zones
• Suitable for supertall buildings

Posibilidades futuras:

• Movimiento vertical
• Movimiento horizontal
• movimiento lateral
• Circulating elevator systems
• Multiple elevator cars operating within a single shaft

Linear motor technology has the potential to redefine elevator design, particularly for buildings exceeding 500 m in height.

6) Vacuum Elevators

Vacuum elevators operate using air pressure differentials and are becoming increasingly popular in residential and low-rise commercial applications.

Ventajas:

• Diseño compacto
• Requisitos estructurales mínimos
• Operación energéticamente eficiente
• Instalación rápida
• Suitable for two to three stop applications
• Aspecto arquitectónico atractivo

These elevators offer an excellent accessibility solution for homes, villas and small commercial buildings.

7) Digitalization and Smart Elevator Systems

The future of the VT industry is closely linked with digital technologies.

Tendencias emergentes:

• Elevator integration with Building Management Systems (BMS)
• Monitoreo remoto
• Análisis de rendimiento en tiempo real
• Detección avanzada de fallos
• Mantenimiento predictivo
• Diagnóstico basado en IA
• Conectividad de Internet de las cosas (IoT)

Spectrum Expansion of the VT Industry

The application spectrum of VT systems is expanding rapidly beyond traditional residential and commercial buildings.

Áreas de crecimiento:

• High-rise residential developments
• Ciudades inteligentes
• Aeropuertos y centros de transporte
• Hospitales e instalaciones sanitarias
• Metro and railway stations
• Religious and pilgrimage destinations
• Accessibility solutions for elderly and differently abled individuals
• Instalaciones industriales y almacenes
• Desarrollos de uso mixto
• Infraestructura turística

The growing emphasis on accessibility, urban mobility and smart infrastructure is creating substantial opportunities for the VT industry.

The VT industry is entering a new era characterized by innovation, digitalization, sustainability and expanding application areas. Technologies such as gearless drives, PU-coated flat ropes, fiber ropes, linear motor systems and future carbon nanotube suspension solutions are transforming the way people move within buildings.

Simultaneously, digital technologies such as predictive maintenance, remote monitoring and intelligent building integration are improving safety, reliability and operational efficiency.

As urbanization continues and buildings become taller, smarter and more complex, VT systems will play an increasingly critical role in modern infrastructure. The coming decade is expected to witness unprecedented technological advancements, making the VT industry one of the most dynamic and innovative sectors of the built environment.