Wind-driven device for cooling permafrost.

ABSTRACT: Preserving permafrost subgrade is a challenge due to global warming, but passive cooling techniques have limited success. Here, we present a novel wind-driven device that can cool permafrost subgrade by circulating coolant between the ambient air and the subgrade. It consists of a wind mill, a mechanical clutch with phase change material, and a fluid-circulation heat exchanger. The clutch engages and disengages through freezing and melting phase change material, while the device turns off when the outside air temperature exceeds a certain threshold, preventing heat from penetrating the subgrade. Two-year observations demonstrate that the device effectively cooled permafrost measuring 8.0 m in height and 1.5 m in radius by 0.6-1.0 °C, with an average power of 68.03 W. The device can be adap

SUBMITTER: Qin Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10662160 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature