Numerical Study on Optimal Scheme of the Geothermally Heated Bridge Deck System

Weidong Lyu, Hefu Pu, Jiannan (Nick) Chen and Zelei Gao
Additional contact information
Weidong Lyu: School of Civil and Hydraulic Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
Hefu Pu: School of Civil and Hydraulic Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
Jiannan (Nick) Chen: Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816, USA
Zelei Gao: College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 24, 1-21

Abstract: Ground source deicing system application in bridge decks is an alternative to salt use, which reduces corrosion and extends the deck service life. Herein, a preliminary parametric numerical analysis is performed to investigate the effects of several important parameters (tube spacing, inlet temperature, flow rate, and concrete cover) on heat transfer performance. Three evaluation indexes (average top surface temperature, snow melting proportion, and heat absorption power) are introduced, and a synthetic evaluation index is proposed to comprehensively consider factors. Mainly referring to the synthetic evaluation index, the optimal design scheme of a geothermally heated bridge deck system under various conditions (layout, lane number, ambient temperature, and tube spacing) is obtained and analyzed to determine the optimal inlet temperature and guide heated bridge deck design. Finally, the influence of wind speed and two adjustment methods are studied. The results indicate that the horizontal layout is the recommended circulating tube layout. The established empirical equations reveal that the optimal inlet temperature is linearly related to ambient temperature and exhibits a quadratic relationship with tube spacing. There is no need to add a heat insulation layer at the bridge deck bottom, and only tubes arranged near the wheels in lanes are recommended.

Keywords: geothermal energy; deicing system; bridge decks; evaluation indexes; optimal design scheme (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/24/6633/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/24/6633/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:24:p:6633-:d:462920

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().