Buried Pipeline and Frost Bulb Growth 1

[oskar11]

I am working on a specific project in which I need to somehow calculate the frost bulb growth surrounding a buried pipeline. The pipeline is around -4C (Joule Thompson effect) while the surrounding soild is around 5C. The pipe is NPS 8 and uninsulated.

The question is, can anyone offer any direction in calculating the size of the frost growth surrounding the pipeline as a function of time? I am really looking for a model to use, some sort of simplifying assumptions that can be suggested, important information that I must consider... anything really. Anything I have tried to date, basically calculations from first principles of heat xfer and thermo, has ended up being too complex.

If you have come across such a calculation and can offer any advice, I would be greatly appreciated.

 

[vzeos]

Sounds like an interesting project. Here is some source material that may be of some help.

http://www.crrel.usace.army.mil/techpub/CRREL_Reports/reports/TR00-16.pdf

- 97.7k

http://www.usace.army.mil/publications/armytm/tm5-852-4/c-3.pdf