Calculation of heat losses in the underground laying of pipelines

Abstract

It is the results of calculations of two types of underground laying of pipelines of heating networks laid in concrete (foam concrete) boxes. The first type is pipelines with applying thermal insulation on the surface of the pipe (concrete boxes). The second type is pipelines without this insulation (foam concrete boxes). Sincetheairlayerbetweenthepipeandtheshells of the boxes practically does not affect to the heat losses to the ground due to intensive convective heat transfer, we propose to reduce the dimensions of foam concrete rectangular boxes to the size of the pipe diameter. It will lead to significant (up to 50%) reduction in heat losses to the ground due to a much lower coefficient of thermal conductivity of the foam concrete compared to concrete as well as a smaller area of heat exchange with the soil. Inaddition, theweightofthestructure, itsdimensionsandcostare reducing.