The　smoke　exhaust　rate　and　the　arrangement　of　the　exhaust　vents　are　the　key　factors　that　can　affect　the　smoke　control　effect　in　tunnel　fire.　The　smoke　production　rate　with　different　heat　release　rates　and　different　tunnel　widths　was　studied　by　a　numerical　method.　The　effects　of　different　smoke　exhaust　rates　and　the　distribution　of　the　exhaust　vents　on　the　smoke　spreading　length　and　the　heat　exhaust　efficiency　were　also　investigated.　Results　show　that　the　smoke　production　rate　is　closely　related　to　the　heat　release　rate　of　the　fire　source,　the　width　of　the　tunnel　and　the　length　of　smoke　spread.　It　is　difficult　to　control　the　smoke　within　the　length　of　300　m　which　is　suggested　in　the　“Guidelines　for　Design　of　Ventilation　of　Highway　Tunnels＂　using　the　recommended　smoke　exhaust　rate　in　the　relative　tunnel　design　codes.　If　the　design　objective　is　to　control　the　smoke　in　a　certain　range,　there　is　a　linear　relationship　between　the　control　range　of　smoke　and　the　opening　range　of　the　exhaust　vent,　and　the　distribution　of　the　exhaust　vent　can　be　optimized　following　the　relationships.　©　2023　Beijing　University　of　Technology.　All　rights　reserved.