Snow Melting System Around Steel Top of Underground Fire Cistern Using Heat Pipe BACH

This research aims to develop snow melting system around steel top of underground fire cistern by using Bubble Actuated Circulating Heat pipe (BACH). Water in afire cistern installed underground is heated by underground heat source, 10∼15 °C Heat is transported by BACH from water to snow melting panel near the surface, which contains the steel top, resulting in snow melting around the top. The experimental results show that this system can melt the snow on the snow melting panel in winter season preferably, and has enough anti-freezing ability around the steel top. The numerical simulation program was found to predict temperature variations of the whole system preferably. From a thermal point of view, BACH showed better results compared to those of a conventional thermosiphon heat pipe.Copyright © 2011 by ASME