Numerical Simulation of Snow Melting on Pavement Surface with Heat Dissipation Pipe Embedded

Abstract

A programmed software was developed in order to numerically simulate time variation of temperature field and snow depth fround a pipe-in-pile snow-melting system, using meteorological data. The system utilized underground piles as heat exchanger between underground soil and water flowing inside the piles. The water was pumped through heat dissipation pipes embedded beneath pavement surface, on which snow melted. Unsteady three-dimensional heat conduction was solved inside the pavement and the underground soil. On the surface, heat balance of conduction, convection and radiation was considered. Snow fall depth was estimated by rainfall weather data, ratio of snowfall to rainfall, and dry density of snowfall. For simulating snow layer, unsteady one-dimensional heat conduction was solved while incorporating partial absorption of solar radiation. Experiments for measuring time variation of temperature field and snow depth around the system were conducted for verification of the software. The obtained simulation results showed good agreements with experimental data, demonstrating utility and validity of the software.