EXPERIMENTAL SUBSTANTIATION OF DESIGNING AND OPERATION OF THE AFLOAT GROUND PIPELINE IN PERMAFROST AREAS

Abstract

In the northern regions where permafrost is widespread, pipeline transport facilities are being built and operated - pumping stations, tanks, pipelines, equipment platforms, auxiliary facilities and administrative buildings. For massive heat-generating objects, there is the problem of uneven precipitation or excessive heaving, which leads to the appearance of stress-strain states. Monitoring the frozen soil temperature and regulating the thermal regime of structures on permafrost prevent emergencies and increase the efficiency of facilities. In SP 25.13330.2012 two basic principles of permafrost construction are given, which have their advantages and disadvantages; the third principle is described in the article - construction on a natural basis with regulation of the thawing halo, at which thermal equilibrium is achieved in the «pipeline - soil» system and the balance of forces acting on the pipeline is maintained. Natural base is used as a natural heat insulator. Based on the practice of operating pipelines, it was noticed that a pipeline laid on the ground has lower accident rate. Based on theoretical calculations, three experiments of afloat ground pipeline laying with different soil composition and humidity were simulated and performed, which showed that the third principle is applicable in practice. When regulating halos, stabilization of pipeline precipitation and a decrease in precipitation in time are achieved. The article describes the installation for conducting permafrost research on the basis of the permafrost center of USPTU. The principle of studying the position of pipeline axis in the embankment with surface laying afloat in permafrost soils is given. The practical value of this work is in the fact that an experimental justification for the operation of an onshore pipeline with the results of stabilization and reduction of precipitation was obtained. However, experiments do not prove that the position of the axis of the pipeline remains stable in time. The article presents the results of studies by other authors concerning the research of ground laying on permafrost soils.