APPLICATION OF HEAT PIPES TO DEICING SYSTEMS

Recent studies and field installations indicate that the use of heat pipes for the collection and distribution of heat overcomes many of the problems associated with conventional pavement deicing systems. Heat pipes promise long life with high reliability and virtually no maintenance. The multiplicity of heat pipes which operate individually within the heating system provides total redundancy and eliminates system breakdown due to isolated failures. The high thermal conductance of the heat pipe gives it a distinct advantage over conventional deicing systems. This high thermal conductance permits substantial energy removal from low-grade (temperature) energy sources without additional work input. As a result, heat pipes are capable of extracting the heat energy contained in the volume of earth adjacent to the pavement surface, thus eliminating the need for costly power sources. Also, the use of a low temperature heat source and distribution network minimizes the thermal gradients through the concrete and reduces the thermal stresses and resultant concrete cracking experienced with conventional high temperature systems.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Second International Heat Pipe Conference, Bologna, Italy, March 31-April 2, 1976.
• Corporate Authors:

  European Space Agency

  8-10 rue Mario Nikis
  75738 Paris Cedex 15,   France 
• Authors:
  • Suelau, H J
  • Kroliczek, E J
  • Brinkman, C P
• Publication Date: 1976

Media Info

• Pagination: n.p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Airport runways; Applications; Bridges; Concrete; Conduction; Cracking; Deicing; Energy; Heat pipes; Highway grades; Maintenance; Reliability; Roads; Slopes; Snow and ice control; Thermal stresses
• Uncontrolled Terms: Concrete cracking
• Old TRIS Terms: Conductance
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Bridges and other structures; Energy; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Pavements; Research; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00165170
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Engineering Index
• Report/Paper Numbers: ESA SP112 Conf Paper
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 27 1977 12:00AM