Heat dissipation snow melting system
The ventilation system with multiple passages and adjustable main pipe features addresses non-uniform snow melting and drainage issues, ensuring effective snow removal in elongated areas and clayey grounds.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- CENT NIPPON EXPRESSWAY CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2022-10-27
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-19
AI Technical Summary
Conventional exhaust heat snow melting systems face issues with non-uniform snow melting in elongated areas and drainage problems in clayey grounds, leading to ventilation pipe blockage and reduced efficiency.
A ventilation system comprising a first passage extending along the road, parallel second passages, and intersecting third passages, with branch pipes and drainage holes, along with a main ventilation pipe having adjustable openings and a variable diameter, ensures uniform snow melting and prevents blockage.
The system achieves uniform snow melting in long, narrow areas and operates effectively in clayey grounds by maintaining airflow and preventing pipe blockage, even under heavy snowfall conditions.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to an exhaust heat snow melting system for removing snow accumulated on a road surface by utilizing exhaust heat from a building.
Background Art
[0002] Various techniques for removing snow accumulated on a road surface by utilizing exhaust heat from a building have been proposed previously. For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-57317, there is proposed an air jet snow melting / drying system having a hollow structure body buried under a road surface and provided with a hollow portion, and a heat storage road surface material provided on the upper portion of the hollow structure body to form a road surface, and continuously jetting air at 0°C or higher, which is press-fitted into the hollow portion, onto the road surface through a branched void network formed in the heat storage road surface material.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0003]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] However, in the conventional technique of supplying air heated by exhaust heat to a hollow structure body provided under a road surface through a buried ventilation pipe, there has been a case where snow cannot be melted uniformly in an elongated area such as a sidewalk. Further, in a clayey ground, the drainage property of snow melting deteriorates, the ventilation pipe is flooded, and there is a risk of hindering the supply of warm air.
[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an exhaust heat snow melting system that enables uniform snow melting even in an elongated area by utilizing exhaust heat from a building and operates without causing any problems even in a clayey ground.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0006] In the exhaust heat snow melting system according to the present invention, below the road to be melted, there is a first ventilation passage extending in the direction of extension of the road to be melted, a plurality of second ventilation passages extending parallel to the first ventilation passage, and a plurality of third ventilation passages extending in the width direction of the road to be melted, intersecting and communicating with the first ventilation passage and the second ventilation passage. Furthermore, a main ventilation pipe is buried below the first ventilation passage and along the first ventilation passage.
[0007] The main ventilation pipe has a plurality of branch pipes extending vertically upward and spaced at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction of the main ventilation pipe at the upper end when buried, and a plurality of drainage holes at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction at the bottom end when buried.
[0008] The branch pipe has an opening located within the first ventilation passage, the opening being closed at the top and having multiple horizontal openings spaced apart in the circumferential direction.
[0009] The main ventilation pipe may have a work opening at its longitudinal end that can be opened and closed upwards while buried.
[0010] The main ventilation pipe may have a reduced diameter section in the middle of its longitudinal direction, and the diameter on the side closer to the supply base point to which a heat exhaust supply pipe that supplies heat exhaust from the building to the main ventilation pipe is connected may be larger than the diameter on the side closer to the end of the longitudinal direction. [Effects of the Invention]
[0011] In the exhaust heat snow melting system according to the present invention, below the road to be melted, a first ventilation passage extending in the direction of extension of the road to be melted, a plurality of second ventilation passages extending parallel to the first ventilation passage, and a plurality of third ventilation passages extending in the width direction of the road to be melted and intersecting and communicating with the first and second ventilation passages are provided. Warm air is supplied through the openings of branch pipes arranged in the first ventilation passage, which are closed at the top and have multiple horizontal openings spaced apart in the circumferential direction, thereby enabling uniform snow melting even in long, narrow areas.
[0012] Furthermore, by providing multiple drainage holes at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction in the bottom portion of the main ventilation pipe when it is buried, blockage and reduction of the ventilation area when water enters the main ventilation pipe can be suppressed. In other words, it becomes possible to operate it without problems even in clayey ground.
[0013] Furthermore, if the main ventilation pipe has an opening at its longitudinal end that can be opened and closed upwards while buried, drainage work can be performed through this opening when the amount of incoming water is large, thereby preventing blockage of the main ventilation pipe and a reduction in the ventilation area. In other words, it can be operated without problems even when the amount of snowfall is heavy.
[0014] Furthermore, if the main ventilation pipe has a reduced diameter section in the middle of its longitudinal direction, and the diameter of the section closer to the supply point to which the exhaust heat supply pipe that supplies exhaust heat from the building is connected is larger than the diameter of the section closer to the longitudinal end, then poor snow melting near the supply point of the main ventilation pipe will be reduced, and more uniform snow melting will be possible. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0015] [Figure 1] This is a plan cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of a structure provided below the road to be melted in the exhaust heat snow melting system according to the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a side cross-sectional view along the line of sight of arrow AA in Figure 1. [Figure 3] This is a photograph used as a substitute for a diagram, showing the main ventilation pipe before it was buried. [Figure 4] This is a photograph used as a substitute for a diagram, showing the end of the main ventilation pipe before it was buried. [Figure 5] This is a cross-sectional view showing the location where temperature measurements were taken in Example 1. [Figure 6] This graph shows the temperature measurement results for Example 1. [Figure 7] The results of the numerical analysis for Example 2 are shown, with (a) being the temperature distribution map at the center of the first, second, and third ventilation channels, and (b) being the temperature distribution map near the road surface. [Figure 8] Fig. shows the result of the numerical analysis of Example 3, where (a) is the temperature distribution diagram of the centers of the first, second, and third ventilation paths, and (b) is the temperature distribution diagram near the road surface. [Figure 9] It is a perspective view showing the calculation model of the numerical analysis of Example 4. [Figure 10] Fig. shows the result of the numerical analysis of Example 4, where (a) is the temperature distribution diagram of the centers of the first, second, and third ventilation paths when the main ventilation pipe has no reduced-diameter part, (b) is the temperature distribution diagram of the centers of the first, second, and third ventilation paths when the main ventilation pipe has a reduced-diameter part at a position 3.9 m from the end, and (c) is the temperature distribution diagram of the centers of the first, second, and third ventilation paths when the main ventilation pipe has a reduced-diameter part at a position 7.6 m from the end. [Figure 11] Fig. shows the result of the numerical analysis of Example 4, where (a) is the temperature distribution diagram near the road surface when the main ventilation pipe has no reduced-diameter part, (b) is the temperature distribution diagram near the road surface when the main ventilation pipe has a reduced-diameter part at a position 3.9 m from the end, and (c) is the temperature distribution diagram near the road surface when the main ventilation pipe has a reduced-diameter part at a position 7.6 m from the end.
Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
[0016] An embodiment of the exhaust heat snow melting system according to the present invention will be described while referring to the drawings. In FIGS. 1 and 2, for the sake of illustration, there are parts where the relative ratios of the dimensions are not accurately represented. In this embodiment, a sidewalk with a width of about 2 m is assumed as the snow melting target road, and it is assumed that the snow accumulated in an area with a length of about 10 m is melted using the exhaust heat from the building.
[0017] In the area to be melted by this exhaust heat snow melting system, below the surface layer 1 that forms the ground surface structure of the snow melting target road, that is, below the snow melting target road, the first ventilation path 21, the second ventilation path 22, and the third ventilation path 23 are provided.
[0018] The first ventilation passage 21 extends in the extension direction L of the road to be melted and is provided at the end of the road in the width direction W. In this embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the first ventilation passage 21 is rectangular, and in Figure 1, the side cross section along the line of arrow A is a surface that includes the side wall of the first ventilation passage 21.
[0019] The second ventilation passage 22 extends parallel to the first ventilation passage 21 and is provided in multiples at intervals along the width direction W of the snow-melting road. The third ventilation passage 23 also extends along the width direction W of the snow-melting road, intersects and communicates with the first ventilation passage 21 and the second ventilation passage 22, and is provided in multiples at intervals along the extension direction L of the snow-melting road. The cross-sectional shape of the second ventilation passage 22 and the third ventilation passage 23 in this embodiment is rectangular, similar to that of the first ventilation passage 21.
[0020] Below the first ventilation passage 21, a main ventilation pipe 30 is buried along the first ventilation passage 21. The main ventilation pipe 30 has a number of branch pipes 31 that extend vertically upward and are provided at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction of the main ventilation pipe 30 in the upper part when buried.
[0021] The main ventilation pipe 30 also has a plurality of drainage holes (not shown) provided at predetermined intervals along its longitudinal direction at the bottom side when buried. Furthermore, the main ventilation pipe 30 has a work opening 32 at its longitudinal end that can be opened and closed upward when buried.
[0022] The branch pipe 31 has an opening 33 located within the first ventilation passage 21. The opening 33 is closed at the top and has multiple horizontal openings spaced apart in the circumferential direction.
[0023] The heat exhausted from the building is supplied to the main ventilation pipe 30 through the heat exhaust supply pipe 4. The heat exhaust supply pipe 4 is connected to the main ventilation pipe 30 at a point along the extension of the snow-melting path. The equipment installed at the heat exhaust source is based on publicly known technology such as air supply fans, so its explanation is omitted.
[0024] At the supply base point O where the exhaust heat supply pipe 4 is connected to the main ventilation pipe 30, the first ventilation passage 21 and the third ventilation passage 23 are in cross-communication. In addition, a branch pipe 31 is provided at the point in the main ventilation pipe 30 where the exhaust heat supply pipe 4 is connected, and four openings 33 are provided in the branch pipe 31 at this point, with horizontal openings spaced 90 degrees apart in the circumferential direction. Warm air is then discharged from the openings 33 in two directions from which the first ventilation passage 21 extends and in two directions from which the third ventilation passage 23 extends.
[0025] The other branch pipes 31 are also provided in the main ventilation pipe 30 at the point where the first ventilation passage 21 and the third ventilation passage 23 intersect and communicate. The openings 33 installed in these branch pipes 31 open in a total of three directions: away from the supply base point O of the first ventilation passage 21, and in the two directions in which the third ventilation passage extends.
[0026] Numerous minute voids are formed within the surface layer 1, and these voids connect to form numerous passages from the bottom of the surface layer 1 to the ground surface. Warm air supplied to the first ventilation passage 21, the second ventilation passage 22, and the third ventilation passage 23 is then ejected to the ground surface through these passages.
[0027] In this embodiment, the first ventilation passage 21, the second ventilation passage 22, and the third ventilation passage 23 are constructed by arranging a plurality of resin blocks, each having a rectangular prism shape, in a configuration where the thickness direction overlaps with the vertical direction. The blocks have through-holes in the longitudinal direction, the width direction, or both longitudinal and width directions, and these through-holes form the first ventilation passage 21, the second ventilation passage 22, or the third ventilation passage 23. Furthermore, the areas without through-holes (the hatched areas surrounded by the first ventilation passage 21, the second ventilation passage 22, and the third ventilation passage 23 in Figure 1) support the ground surface layer 1.
[0028] The block body is further provided with numerous small holes that open onto the upper surface and communicate with the through-holes. Warm air is supplied to the bottom surface of the ground layer 1 from the first ventilation passage 21, the second ventilation passage 22, and the third ventilation passage 23.
[0029] In this embodiment, the supply base point O where the exhaust heat supply pipe 4 is connected to the main ventilation pipe 30 is located at an intermediate position in the longitudinal direction of the main ventilation pipe 30. The main ventilation pipe 30 has work openings 32 at both of its two end sections.
[0030] Furthermore, there are no restrictions on the position of the supply base point O in the main ventilation pipe 30, and it can be set to an appropriate position depending on the surrounding environment of the road to be melted. For example, it may be the base end in the longitudinal direction of the main ventilation pipe 30.
[0031] However, if the distance of the main ventilation pipe 30 from the supply base point O to its longitudinal end increases, the discharge velocity of warm air decreases near the supply base point O, which can lead to poor snow melting near the supply base point O. Therefore, when the distance of the main ventilation pipe 30 from the supply base point O to its longitudinal end increases, it is preferable to provide a reduced diameter section in the middle of the main ventilation pipe 30 in the longitudinal direction, making the diameter closer to the supply base point O larger than the diameter closer to the longitudinal end. This suppresses the flow of warm air to the end of the main ventilation pipe 30 and reduces poor snow melting near the supply base point O. [Examples]
[0032] "Example 1" In a test construction area with dimensions of 6.4m in the extension direction L and 2.8m in the width direction W, a first ventilation passage, a second ventilation passage, and a third ventilation passage were installed, and brick blocks were laid on top to form a snow-melting road. The temperature at the point where the first ventilation passage and the third ventilation passage intersected was measured.
[0033] In the width direction W of the test construction section, a first ventilation passage and five second ventilation passages were arranged at approximately equal intervals, and in the extension direction L, twelve third ventilation passages were arranged at approximately equal intervals. The first ventilation passage was positioned as the third passage from one end (fourth from the other end) in the width direction W.
[0034] The main ventilation pipe was buried at a depth of approximately 1 m below the ground surface, and the end opposite the longitudinal end was connected to the heat exhaust supply pipe 4 as the supply base point. Temperature measurements were taken at points P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, and P6 where the first ventilation passage intersected with the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th, 9th, and 12th third ventilation passages, starting from the side connected to the heat exhaust supply pipe. Temperature measurements were also taken at point P0 near the base end of the heat exhaust supply pipe. The locations where temperature measurements were taken are shown in Figure 5, and the measurement results are shown in Figure 6.
[0035] In the test construction section of Example 1, the temperature of the warm air supplied to the main ventilation pipe showed a greater decrease at point P6 at the end than at other points, but not such a significant decrease was observed over almost the entire length of the extension direction L, confirming that generally good snow melting can be expected.
[0036] Example 2 Numerical analysis was performed on a road section with dimensions of 4.4m in the extension direction L and 1.8m in the width direction W, where a first ventilation passage and three second ventilation passages are arranged at approximately equal intervals in the width direction W, and eight third ventilation passages are arranged at approximately equal intervals in the extension direction L.
[0037] The first ventilation passage was positioned at the end in the width direction W, and the point where the first ventilation passage intersected with the third ventilation passage (the fifth passage from one end in the extension direction L, and the fourth passage from the other end) was designated as the supply base point where the exhaust heat supply pipe was connected to the main ventilation pipe. Figure 7(a) shows the central temperature distribution of the first, second, and third ventilation passages, and Figure 7(b) shows the temperature distribution near the road surface. It was confirmed that generally good snow melting could be expected over almost the entire extension direction L.
[0038] "Example 3" Numerical analysis was performed on a road section with an extension direction L of 8.8m and a width direction W of 1.8m, where a first ventilation passage and three second ventilation passages are arranged at approximately equal intervals in the width direction W, and sixteen third ventilation passages are arranged at approximately equal intervals in the extension direction L.
[0039] The first ventilation passage was positioned at the end in the width direction W, and the point where the first ventilation passage intersected with the third ventilation passage (the ninth passage from one end in the extension direction L, and the eighth from the other end) was designated as the supply base point where the exhaust heat supply pipe was connected to the main ventilation pipe. Figure 8(a) shows the central temperature distribution of the first, second, and third ventilation passages, and Figure 8(b) shows the temperature distribution near the road surface. It was confirmed that generally good snow melting could be expected over almost the entire area in the extension direction L.
[0040] "Example 4" Numerical analysis was performed for a snow-melting road, assuming an L-shaped section in plan view, consisting of a section with dimensions of 2.2m in the extension direction L and 2.8m in the width direction W (hereinafter referred to as the "wide section") and a section with dimensions of 8.0m in the extension direction L and 1.8m in the width direction W (hereinafter referred to as the "narrow section"). A first ventilation passage extending across both the wide and narrow sections in the width direction W, and three second ventilation passages arranged at approximately equal intervals, were also arranged in the wide section, with two additional second ventilation passages at approximately equal intervals. Furthermore, 18 third ventilation passages were arranged at approximately equal intervals in the extension direction L. Numerical analysis was then performed by varying the diameter of the main ventilation pipe for each case.
[0041] The first ventilation passage is positioned at the end in the width direction W in narrow sections, and as the third passage from one end (fourth from the other end) in the width direction W in wide sections. The main ventilation pipe and the heat exhaust pipe are connected in an L-shape at the end opposite the longitudinal end of the main ventilation pipe. Figure 9 shows the arrangement of the first ventilation passage, the second ventilation passage, the third ventilation passage, and the main ventilation pipe.
[0042] Figure 10 shows the central temperature distribution of the first, second, and third ventilation passages, and Figure 11 shows the temperature distribution near the road surface in the following cases: Case 1, where the diameter of the main ventilation pipe is 200 mm along its entire length; Case 2, where the diameter is reduced at a position 3.9 m from the end of the main ventilation pipe, with a diameter of 150 mm from the reduced section toward the end and a diameter of 200 mm from the reduced section toward the supply base point; and Case 3, where the diameter is reduced at a position 7.6 m from the end of the main ventilation pipe, with a diameter of 150 mm from the reduced section toward the end and a diameter of 200 mm from the reduced section toward the supply base point.
[0043] In Case 1, where the diameter of the main ventilation pipe is 200 mm along its entire length, as shown in Figures 10(a) and 11(a), the discharge velocity of warm air decreases and snow melting is poor in the corners (areas enclosed by ellipses) that are further from the first ventilation passage on the supply base side in the wide section. In contrast, in Case 2, where the diameter is reduced at a position of 3.9 m from the end of the main ventilation pipe, with a diameter of 150 mm from the reduced diameter section to the end and a diameter of 200 mm from the reduced diameter section to the supply base point, the area of snow melting in the corners is reduced, as shown in Figures 10(b) and 11(b). In other words, it was confirmed that using a main ventilation pipe with a reduced diameter section can be expected to reduce snow melting problems on the supply base side.
[0044] The diameter reduction ratio and the location of the diameter reduction section should be optimized according to the installation environment. For example, in this embodiment 4, when the diameter reduction section is located 7.6m from the end of the main ventilation pipe (Case 3), as shown in Figures 10(c) and 11(c), while snow melting problems in the corners of the wide section are resolved, snow melting problems persist in a part of the narrow section (the area enclosed by the ellipse). Therefore, in the environment assumed in this embodiment 4, if the diameter of the supply base end of the main ventilation pipe is 200mm and the diameter of the end end is 150mm, the location of the diameter reduction section should be the optimal location between 3.9m and 7.6m from the end. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0045] 1. Surface layer 4. Heat exhaust supply pipe 21 First ventilation channel 22 Second ventilation channel 23 Third ventilation channel 30 Main ventilation pipe 31 Branch pipe 32 Work port 33 Opening L Stretching direction O supply base W (width direction)
Claims
1. Below the road to be melted, a first ventilation passage is provided that extends in the direction of extension of the road to be melted, a plurality of second ventilation passages extend parallel to the first ventilation passage, and a plurality of third ventilation passages extend in the width direction of the road to be melted and intersect and communicate with the first ventilation passage and the second ventilation passage. A main ventilation pipe is buried below the first ventilation passage, along the first ventilation passage. The main ventilation pipe has, in its buried state, a plurality of branch pipes extending vertically upward and provided at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction of the main ventilation pipe at the upper end, and in its buried state, a plurality of drainage holes provided at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction at the bottom end, and has a reduced diameter section in the middle of the longitudinal direction, with the diameter on the side closer to the supply base point to which a heat exhaust supply pipe that supplies exhaust heat from the building to the main ventilation pipe is connected being larger than the diameter on the side closer to the longitudinal end. The heat exhaust snow melting system is characterized in that the branch pipe has an opening located in the first ventilation passage, the opening is closed at the top, and multiple horizontal openings are provided spaced apart in the circumferential direction.
2. The exhaust snow melting system according to claim 1, wherein the main ventilation pipe has a work opening at its longitudinal end that can be opened and closed upward when buried.