Sub-soil Insulation Method for Permafrost Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Construction and drilling in permafrost zones face instability due to thawing, leading to structural issues and high costs for insulation, as existing methods are inadequate for supporting heavy structures and managing heat requirements for liquefied gas storage.
Innovation Solution
A method involving mechanical destructuring of the sub-soil, injecting an insulating material with lower thermal conductivity than the sub-soil, and mixing it to modify thermal characteristics, reducing excavation and structural needs while enhancing stability and reducing heat requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If piles are used to raise buildings and favor cold penetration into the sub-soil, then building stability is improved, but construction complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the insulation function from the foundation structure itself, incorporating insulating material directly into the foundation concrete. This eliminates the need for separate pile systems and external insulation layers, thereby maintaining building stability while reducing construction complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the structural support function and thermal insulation function into a single integrated foundation element. The insulating material is embedded within the concrete foundation, combining load-bearing capacity with thermal resistance in one component, thus avoiding the need for separate pile systems.
2Reliability
If insulating materials are added in an annular space of the well, then well insulation is improved, but installation cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the insulation requirement from the annular space configuration and implements it directly within the well structure during construction. By incorporating insulation into the concrete itself, the need for separate annular space insulation installation is eliminated, reducing overall installation cost while maintaining insulation effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulation is incorporated into the foundation concrete during the initial construction phase rather than as a subsequent installation step. This preliminary integration of insulation material into the structural element avoids the need for separate installation operations in annular spaces, thereby reducing installation costs.
3Reliability
If outside heating systems are implemented for liquefied gas storage, then sub-soil freezing prevention is improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the thermal protection function from external heating systems and implements it through the foundation structure itself. The insulating concrete foundation passively prevents heat transfer to the sub-soil, eliminating the need for active outside heating systems and their associated complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The foundation structure provides its own thermal insulation service through embedded insulating material, eliminating the need for separate external heating systems. The insulating concrete actively resists heat transfer from the stored liquefied gas to the sub-soil, making the system self-sufficient for freezing prevention.
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 allows for stable construction and drilling by reducing settlement issues, lowering insulation costs, and extending heating system functionality in permafrost zones, facilitating the use of buildings and storage of liquefied gases by modifying sub-soil thermal properties without replacing it.
Implementation Method 1
the thermal conductivity of which is strictly lower than the thermal conductivity of the subsoil
Data Source
AI summary
This invention relates to a method for insulating sub-soil comprising mechanically destructuring the sub-soil, injecting an insulating material into the destructured sub-soil, and mixing the sub-soil and the insulating material. The thermal conductivity of the insulating material is strictly lower than the thermal conductivity of the sub-soil.