Application of Electrical Energy to Culvert Icing Problems: A Laboratory Study

David A. Gaskin · Leonard E. Stanley

sty 1974 · U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory

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A laboratory study was made to investigate the use of electric heat cables to counteract culvert icing. An automatic system for producing a thaw tunnel of a preselected diameter was developed and tested. An 80-in.-long, 1 ft-diam culvert with a 10 ft copper sheath heating cable modeled a typical Alaskan installation. Tests were made to evaluate several continuous power levels, a short-term percentage timer, and the automatic system. Maximum efficiency (cross section produced/unit energy input) occurred when the cable was operated continuously at its maximum permissible power level. The short-term timer system was less efficient than applying the same amount of energy continuously. The automatic system performed well in the laboratory, but may need additional design work to ensure high reliability in field applications. (Modified author abstract).