Wind-Driven Air Pumping Device for Block-Stone Subgrade Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The conventional block-stone subgrade technology is not suitable for high-latitude permafrost areas like Siberia due to excessive snowfall, which prevents cold wind from cooling the underlying permafrost.
Innovation Solution
A fully automatic device for pumping cold air into block-stone subgrades, featuring a temperature-sensitive clutch and multi-stage air pumping impellers, which operates only in cold seasons to pump cold air into the subgrade and stops in warm seasons to avoid warming the subgrade.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If ventilation pipes are additionally provided in the block-stone layer to prevent snow cover from compromising cooling, then the cooling effect is improved, but the construction cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses the natural cold wind itself as the driving force for the air pumping impeller, eliminating the need for external power sources or complex control systems. The cold wind automatically activates the cooling function through wind-driven rotation of the impeller, making the system self-regulating and simplifying construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the essential cooling function from the complex ventilation pipe system and concentrates it into a single integrated device embedded in the block-stone layer. This removes the need for extensive ventilation piping while maintaining effective cooling through the pumped cold air.
2Productivity
If a U-shaped ventilation pipe is embedded in the block-stone subgrade with a peristaltic air pump, then air can be pumped through the subgrade, but both cold and warm air flow through the pipe producing thermal effect that is not conducive to cooling performance
Solution Approach 1:
The device dynamically adapts its operation based on ambient temperature conditions through the temperature-sensitive clutch mechanism. In cold seasons, the clutch engages to allow cold air pumping; in warm seasons, it disengages to prevent warm air from entering the block-stone layer, thus maintaining optimal cooling performance throughout the year.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature-sensitive clutch changes the operational state of the air pumping system based on temperature parameters. The clutch engages or disengages automatically according to temperature thresholds, controlling whether the air pumping impeller operates to pump cold air or remains inactive to avoid introducing warm air.
3Reliability
If the air pumping system operates continuously, then cold air is constantly pumped into the subgrade, but energy is wasted during warm seasons when cooling is not needed
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature-sensitive clutch provides automatic feedback based on ambient temperature conditions, controlling the air pumping system's operation. When temperatures drop below a threshold, the clutch engages to activate cooling; when temperatures rise, it disengages to stop pumping, preventing energy waste during warm seasons while ensuring reliable cooling when needed.
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
The device effectively enhances the cooling performance of block-stone subgrades in high-snowfall areas by utilizing natural wind energy to pump cold air into the subgrade, maintaining the permafrost in a low-temperature state and reducing construction costs.
Implementation Method 1
a temperature-sensitive clutch including a lower plate and an upper plate, the lower plate and the upper plate are connected by means of a slidable structure and sliding in the same direction as an axial direction of the drive shaft, a temperature-sensitive column provided between the lower plate and the upper plate
Implementation Method 2
an air pumping system including an air pumping impeller and a drive shaft pivotably connected inside the inner cylinder, the air pumping impeller disposed between the air inlet and the air outlet and connected to the drive shaft
Implementation Method 3
a power system provided on a top of the inner cylinder and including an actuator, a power shaft and a driving bevel gear, the actuator connected to the power shaft for driving the power shaft to rotate
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a fully automatic device for pumping cold air into block-stone subgrade and includes an outer cylinder, an inner cylinder, a power system and an air pumping system; and utilizes natural wind to drive the air pumping system to operate for the purpose of pumping cold air into a block-stone subgrade, and achieves the effect of pumping cold air into the block-stone subgrade in cold seasons and keeping warm air out of the block-stone subgrade in warm seasons by disposing a temperature-sensitive clutch. The present invention may effectively improve the engineering applicability of the block-stone subgrade construction technology in the areas with heavy snowfall; the present invention effectively improves the performance of the block-stone subgrade as a thermal semiconductor on an inter-annual scale and further protects the permafrost underlying the subgrade.