Ice Dam Construction Using Freezing for Faster River Closure
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dam construction methods are plagued by complex procedures, high costs, and slow construction speeds, which hinder the efficient utilization of hydropower resources and lead to environmental issues.
Innovation Solution
A dam construction method utilizing natural water bodies as material and employing a freezing technique to form an ice dam body, allowing for quick flow closure and temporary power generation, which can be used as a permanent or temporary dam to facilitate the construction of a permanent concrete dam, reducing investment and environmental impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional concrete dam construction methods are used, then structural strength and stability are ensured, but construction period is extended, investment increases, and construction speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical state of water from liquid to solid (ice) through temperature parameter changes, transforming it into a construction material that can be easily transported and assembled. This allows rapid dam construction without requiring complex concrete mixing and curing processes, thereby increasing construction speed while maintaining structural integrity through the phase-changed material properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the traditional mechanical concrete construction system (mixing, pouring, vibrating, curing) with a thermal field-based system using freezing technology. By applying cold energy to freeze water in-situ, the construction process is simplified and accelerated, eliminating the need for complex mechanical operations and extended curing periods while ensuring structural reliability.
2Strength
If reinforced concrete is used for dam construction, then dam strength is ensured, but material consumption increases and construction cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the need for cement and aggregate materials by using frozen water as the primary construction material. The ice itself forms the structural body of the dam, removing the requirement for large quantities of concrete materials while maintaining the necessary structural strength through the physical properties of ice and the freezing process.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the temperature parameter of water to freeze it, the invention transforms ordinary water into a structural material that replaces concrete. This parameter change eliminates the need for cement and aggregate, significantly reducing material consumption and construction costs while ensuring dam strength through the cohesive freezing process.
3Manufacturing precision
If traditional concrete construction methods are used, then construction quality can be controlled, but construction complexity increases and environmental impact worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the complex formwork, reinforcement, and curing systems from the construction process. By using frozen water as the construction material, the procedure simplifies to water delivery, freezing, and assembly operations, dramatically reducing construction complexity while maintaining quality through controlled freezing parameters and material purity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the complex mechanical concrete construction system with a thermal field-based freezing system. This substitution simplifies the construction procedure by eliminating formwork, reinforcement installation, and curing operations, while construction quality is ensured through controlled temperature parameters and the inherent properties of frozen water.
4Use of energy by moving object
If conventional dam construction is undertaken, then energy resources are consumed, but construction period is extended leading to delayed energy production
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs preliminary freezing of water to create ice blocks or frozen structures before final dam assembly. This preliminary action allows the structural material to be prepared in advance and transported efficiently, significantly reducing the on-site construction period and enabling faster commissioning of the hydroelectric facility, thereby reducing time loss while maintaining energy production capability.
Solution Approach 2:
By applying temperature parameter changes to freeze water, the invention creates a construction material that can be rapidly assembled and set, eliminating the extended curing periods required for concrete. This accelerates the construction schedule, reduces time loss, and enables earlier energy production while consuming energy resources efficiently through the phase-change process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method accelerates the construction period, reduces investment, and minimizes environmental impact by enabling early power generation and reducing material consumption, while ensuring construction quality and eliminating waste after completion.
Implementation Method 1
powering up and starting freezing machines to freeze the unit water body to below the freezing point to form solid ice unit body
Implementation Method 2
choosing a high-performance heat insulation material of insulation layer to cover the unit body formwork in the freezing part
Implementation Method 3
after the permanent dam body is placed, melting down the ice dam formed by the solid ice unit body
Data Source
AI summary
A dam construction method utilizing refrigerating technology is provided, the method takes natural water as the material to construct the dam and constructs an ice dam body by utilizing the refrigerating technology. The method includes the following steps: choosing the forms and quantity of ice unit bodies, determining the positions and quantity of frozen contact points, manufacturing sufficient ice unit bodies by frozen units, choosing heat insulating material with high performance as the heat preservation layer to cover on the outside of the frozen ice unit bodies; temporarily fixing the ice unit bodies; quickly freezing the seams of the ice unit bodies to form a whole ice dam; mounting temporary generating equipment and completing the temporary dam body; thawing the ice dam body after a permanent dam body is completed.