Arrangement to control heat flow between a member and its environment

Claim 2

An arrangement to remove excess heat from an underground fluid line in permafrost, said arrangement comprising a thermal bleed exposed directly to the line to dissipate heat from the line, said thermal bleed comprising a cell structure providing means for bleeding excess quantities of heat from said line to the atmosphere by natural heat transfer mechanism.

Claim 3

The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said thermal bleed extends substantially about the periphery of said line.

Claim 4

The arrangement of claim 2 wherein said thermal bleed is a closed cell with an internal dual passageway therethrough, and including a thermally sensitive fluid which can move through said passageway to carry said heat from said line.

Claim 5

An arrangement of elements in proximity to a member adapted to be heated, said member when heated being at a temperature greater than the transition temperature of permafrost in or on which said member is or is to be supported, which elements act as a naturally regenerative thermal protection system between said member and adjacent permafrost, one of said elements comprising a layer of insulation material, another of said elements including means for heat absorbtion and/or dissipation, said means including a thermocell which has spaced skins and a fluid contained therebetween, said fluid having a freezing point no greater than the transition temperature of said permafrost, said means also including a radiating and ventilating element between said insulation layer and said thermocell to further assist in heat dissipation, said radiating or ventilating element including a core providing dual passageways to permit lineal movement of heat absorbing fluids therewithin to dissipate heat coming through the insulating layer, whereby said insulating layer and heat absorbing and/or dissipating means cooperate during all seasons of the year to prevent substantial thawing of said adjacent permafrost which would otherwise occur due to the presence of said member when heated.

Claim 6

An arrangement of elements in proximity to a member adapted to be heated, said member when heated being at a temperature greater than the transition temperature of permafrost in or on which said member is or is to be supported, which elements act as a naturally regenerative thermal protection system between said member and adjacent permafrost, one of said elements comprising a layer of insulation material, another of said elements including means for heat absorbtion and/or dissipation, said means including a thermocell which has spaced skins and a fluid contained therebetween, said fluid having a freezing point no greater than the transition temperature of said permafrost, said means also including a radiating and ventilating element between said insulation layer and said thermocell to further assist in heat dissipation, said radiating or ventilating element including a core providing dual passageways to permit lineal movement of heat absorbing fluids therewithin to dissipate heat coming through the insulating layer, whereby said insulating layer and heat absorbing and/or dissipating means cooperate during all seasons of the year to prevent substantial thawing of said adjacent permafrost which would otherwise occur due to the presence of said member when heated.

Claim 7

The arrangement of claim 4 wherein said member is a pipeline buried in said permafrost.

Claim 8

The arrangement of claim 5 wherein said radiating or ventilating element provides passageways openly exposed to the atmosphere.

Claim 9

The arrangement of claim 5 wherein said thermocell extends adjacently about the periphery of said insulation layer.

Claim 10

The arrangement of claim 7 wherein said thermocell includes water as its fluid, and an outer insulating layer about the outer periphery of said thermocell to thereby provide an interface between said outer layer and the adjacent permafrost such that said interface remains at a temperature below said transition temperature.

Claim 11

The arrangement of claim 5 wherein a minor portion of said insulating layer is open to said members periphery creating a hot spot to aid heat dissipation.

Claim 12

The arrangement of claim 4 wherein said radiating or ventilating element is a closed annulus including a liquid which densifies upon being exposed to temperatures below said transition temperature and which liquid is fluid enough to travel about opposite sides of said core as it is heated by heat coming through the insulating layer, said annulus including an extension through the thermocell and into the adjacent soil to aid in conduction of heat to be dissipated from said annulus.

Claim 13

An arrangement of elements in proximity to a member adapted to be heated, said membeR when heated being at a temperature greater than the transition temperature of permafrost in or on which said member is or is to be supported, which elements act as a naturally regenerative closed thermal protection system between said member and adjacent permafrost, one of said elements comprising a layer of insulation material, another of said elements comprising a closed cell structure containing a given contained fluid means for absorbing and storing excess quantities of such heat during a warm climatic season and dissipating the same by natural heat transfer mechanism during a cold climatic season thereby permitting the heat storage capacity of said means to be naturally regenerative by climatic seasonal changes, whereby said insulating layer and said cell structure and its contained fluid means cooperate during all seasons of the year to prevent substantial thawing of said adjacent permafrost which would otherwise occur due to the presence of said member when heated.

Claim 14

An arrangement of elements in proximity to a member adapted to be heated, said membeR when heated being at a temperature greater than the transition temperature of permafrost in or on which said member is or is to be supported, which elements act as a naturally regenerative closed thermal protection system between said member and adjacent permafrost, one of said elements comprising a layer of insulation material, another of said elements comprising a closed cell structure containing a given contained fluid means for absorbing and storing excess quantities of such heat during a warm climatic season and dissipating the same by natural heat transfer mechanism during a cold climatic season thereby permitting the heat storage capacity of said means to be naturally regenerative by climatic seasonal changes, whereby said insulating layer and said cell structure and its contained fluid means cooperate during all seasons of the year to prevent substantial thawing of said adjacent permafrost which would otherwise occur due to the presence of said member when heated.

Claim 15

The arrangement of claim 11 wherein said member is heated to at least 32*F.

Claim 16

The arrangement of claim 11 wherein said insulation layer is located adjacent said member and said cell structure is located between said insulating layer and said permafrost.

Claim 17

The arrangement of claim 13 wherein an air duct is located between said member and said insulating layer, said air duct having spaced skins and open at its opposite ends to the atmosphere which permits the passage of air therethrough.

Claim 18

The arrangement of claim 11 wherein said insulation layer is located substantially about the periphery of said member.

Claim 19

The arrangement of claim 11 wherein said elements are located below said member.

Claim 20

The arrangement of claim 11 wherein said other element has spaced skins and said fluid means contained therebetween has a freezing point no greater than the transition temperature of said permafrost.

Claim 21

The arrangement of claim 17 wherein said fluid is a solution and having from its frozen to thawed state a heat capacity sufficient to maintain said solution at a temperature no greater than said transition temperature throughout all seasons of the year.

Claim 22

The arrangement of claim 11 wherein another of said elements includes a radiating or ventilating element for absorbing and/or dissipating said heat to the atmosphere.

Claim 23

The arrangement of claim 11 wherein said member is located above the surface of the permafrost said member being supported upon said elements adjacent the permafrost, said arrangement having said cell structure located below said insulation layer, said cell structure comprising spaced skins and filled with a fluid having a freezing temperature no greater than said transition temperature so as to act as a heat sink.

Claim 24

The arrangement of claim 20 wherein said member is a pipeline and said elements are supported by a non-frost susceptible material like gravel upon said permafrost.

Claim 25

The arrangement of claim 20 wherein said member is covered about its periphery by said insulation layer.

Claim 26

The arrangement of claim 20 wherein said member is a building structure.

Claim 27

The arrangement of claim 11 wherein said fluid means is recyclable and said heat transfer mechanism comprises natural fluid flow.

Claim 28

The arrangement of claim 11 wherein said heat transfer mechanism comprises thermal conductivity.

Claim 29

The arrangement of claim 11 wherein a third one of said elements comprising a cell structure including means for absorbing and/or dissipating heat from said member and bleeding excess quantities of such heat to the atmosphere by natural fluid flow mechanism.

Claim 30

The arrangement of claim 26 wherein said closed cell structure is located on the side of said insulation layer opposite from said third one of said elements.

Claim 31

The arrangement of claim 27 wherein yet a fourth of said elements is like said third one of said elements and is located between said closed cell structure and said insulation layer to assist said heat sink functIon of said closed cell structure in preventing heat from reaching said earthen support during the summer season and to regenerate the heat sink during the winter season.

Claim 32

The arrangement of claim 11 wherein said closed cell structure comprises spaced skins and a core structure located therebetween.

Claim 33

An arrangement of elements in proximity to a member adapted to be heated, said member when heated being at a temperature greater than the transition temperature of permafrost in or on which said member is or is to be supported, which elements act as a naturally regenerative thermal protection system between said member and adjacent permafrost, one of said elements comprising a layer of insulation material, another of said elements comprising a cell structure providing means for bleeding excess quantities of heat to the atmosphere by natural heat transfer mechanism, whereby said elements cooperate during all seasons of the year to prevent substantial thawing of said adjacent permafrost which would otherwise occur due to the presence of said member when heated.

Claim 34

An arrangement of elements in proximity to a member adapted to be heated, said member when heated being at a temperature greater than the transition temperature of permafrost in or on which said member is or is to be supported, which elements act as a naturally regenerative thermal protection system between said member and adjacent permafrost, one of said elements comprising a layer of insulation material, another of said elements comprising a cell structure providing means for bleeding excess quantities of heat to the atmosphere by natural heat transfer mechanism, whereby said elements cooperate during all seasons of the year to prevent substantial thawing of said adjacent permafrost which would otherwise occur due to the presence of said member when heated.

Claim 35

The arrangement of claim 30 wherein said heat transfer mechanism comprises natural fluid flow.

Claim 36

The arrangement of claim 31 wherein said cell structure is vented to the atmosphere for said bleeding.

Claim 37

The arrangement of claim 32 wherein said cell structure has extensions in open communication with the atmosphere as its venting mechanism.

Claim 38

The arrangement of claim 30 wherein said cell structure is closed and the means contained therein for absorbing and/or dissipating heat comprises a given contained fluid.

Claim 39

The arrangement of claim 34 wherein said fluid is recyclable.

Claim 40

The arrangement of claim 34 wherein said cell structure includes extensions into the temperature active surface layer of earth above the member.

Claim 41

The arrangement of claim 30 wherein said cell structure comprises spaced skins and a core structure located therebetween.

Claim 42

The arrangement of claim 37 wherein said core structure provides dual interconnected passageways open to the atmosphere for bleeding said heat to a cooler atmosphere.

Claim 43

The arrangement of claim 37 wherein said cell structure has an internal dual interconnected passageway therethrough and a thermally sensitive fluid which can move through said passageway for bleeding said heat.

Claim 44

The arrangement of claim 36 wherein said member is heated to at least 32*F.

Claim 45

The arrangement of claim 30 wherein said insulation layer is located adjacent said member and said cell structure is located between said insulating layer and said permafrost.

Claim 46

The arrangement of claim 30 wherein said insulation layer is located substantially about the periphery of said member.

Claim 47

The arrangement of claim 30 wherein said elements are located below said member.

Claim 48

The arrangement of claim 30 wherein said cell structure is located between said member and said insulating layer.

Claim 49

The arrangement of claim 44 wherein said cell structure comprises spaced skins and a core structure located therebetween.

Claim 50

The arrangement of claim 30 wherein said cell structure extends substantially about the periphery of said member.

Claim 51

The arrangement of claim 46 wherein said insulation layer is between said cell structure and said member.

Claim 52

The arrangement of claim 47 wherein a second insulation layer is located between cell structure and said earthen support.

Claim 53

The arrangement of claim 47 wherein said cell structure fluid has a transition temperature below that of said earthen support.