Optimum insulation design for buried utilities subject to frost action in cold regions using the Nelder-Mead algorithm

• Published in: International journal of heat and mass transfer Vol. 130; pp. 613 - 639
• Main Authors: Liu, Hongwei, Maghoul, Pooneh, Shalaby, Ahmed
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2019; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Algorithms; Backfill; Buried pipes; Buried utilities; Conductive heat transfer; Freezing; Frost; Frost action; Frost damage; Frost protection; Gas pipes; Heat and mass transfer; Heat transfer; Insulation; Latent heat; Mass transfer; Mathematical models; Moisture content; Nelder-Mead optimization algorithm; Parametric study; Phase change; Phase transitions; Soil investigations; Soil water; System effectiveness; Thermal insulation; Underground utilities; Water utilities; Insulation; Parametric study; Heat and mass transfer; Buried utilities; Phase change; Nelder-Mead optimization algorithm; Frost action

•Neglecting the phase change effects leads to an erroneous design of the insulation.•Mass transfer is negligible for predicting the temperature and water content.•Using granular soil (sand) as backfill is more critical than clay.•The Nelder-Mead algorithm is effective to determine the optimum design...