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Thermal Design

Analysis of effective methods for prevention of frozen pipes

2014
Wentworth

Frozen pipes can be a major issue during the winter months, causing costly damages to homes and businesses. There are three commonly used methods to prevent pipes from freezing: the flowing of water, insulation, and heating. In this project, an analysis was conducted to determine the most effective and efficient method of preventing frozen pipes.

What was done:

  • Conducted hand computations, SolidWorks' finite element analysis (FEA), and experimental tests to compare the three methods of prevention.

  • Simulations and calculations demonstrated that insulated pipes are the most effective method long term, while flowing water is the most effective method short term.

  • Infrared temperature sensing and ice bath tests were performed to verify the effectiveness of each method.

  • The analysis showed that although the heating coil is extremely effective in the short term, it was the least effective when comparing the overall cost.

  • The results indicate that proper insulation is the most effective method of preventing frozen pipes in the long run.

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