Pipe heating system with underground water tank for snow thawing and ice prevention on roads and bridge decks

In order to prevent traffic accidents on snow-covered bridge decks, the writers developed a new pipe heating system that uses only groundwater stored in a large underground tank. The underground tank provides geothermal energy, i.e., groundwater of constant temperature, through heating pipes embedded in concrete pavements with no electric heater or fuel boiler. The pipe heating system was constructed at approximately 50% of the cost of comparable systems. In addition, there is a reduction of 10% in operating costs compared with the previous system. The present paper outlines its design and construction and provides fundamental data for the developed system. The piped heating system has kept the road conditions safe during the winter season by always removing the snow and ice from the heated road and bridge sections earlier than the surrounding roads. According to long-term temperature measurements, this system has prevented the road temperature from decreasing below 0°C, even through nighttime and morning periods. This report presents the system as an economical and effective solution for snow thawing and ice prevention.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/13202939
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract used with permission of the publisher
• Authors:
  • Yoshitake, Isamu
  • Yasumura, Narifumi
  • Syobuzako, Masayuki
  • Scanlon, Andrew
• Publication Date: 2011-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; Photos; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 71-86
• Serial:
  • Journal of Cold Regions Engineering
  • Volume: 25
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 0887-381X
  • Serial URL: http://opjs.aip.org/cro

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge decks; Concrete pavements; Container tanks; Design of specific facilities; Groundwater; Heat pipes; Ice prevention; Roads; Snowmelt; Thaw; Underground structures; Weather conditions
• Uncontrolled Terms: Freeze thaw cycles; Heating (Bridge); Heating (Road); Water tanks
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; I26: Water Run-off - Freeze-thaw; I60: Maintenance;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01345162
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 20 2011 7:27AM