Sciences in Cold and Arid Regions ›› 2021, Vol. 13 ›› Issue (3): 234-255.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1226.2021.20075.

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Centrifuge model test on performance of thermosyphon cooled sandbags stabilizing warm oil pipeline buried in permafrost

GuoYu Li1,2(),HongYuan Jing3,Nikolay Volkov4,Wei Ma1,PengChao Chen3   

  1. 1.State Key Laboratory of Frozen Soil Engineering (SKLFSE), Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources (NIEER), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
    2.Da Xing'anling Observation and Research Station of Frozen-ground Engineering and Environment, NIEER, CAS, Jiagedaqi, Heilongjiang 165000, China
    3.PipeChina North Pipeline Company, Langfang, Hebei 065000, China
    4.GEOINGSERVICE LLP (Fugro Group), 29 Vernadskogo Avenue, Moscow, Russia
  • Received:2020-11-30 Accepted:2021-01-19 Online:2021-06-30 Published:2021-07-05
  • Contact: GuoYu Li E-mail:guoyuli@lzb.ac.cn
  • Supported by:
    the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDA20030201);National Natural Science Foundation of China(41672310);the National Key Research and Development Program(2017YFC0405101);the Research Project of the State Key Laboratory of Frozen Soil Engineering(SKLFSE-ZY-20)

Abstract:

The thaw settlement of pipeline foundation soils in response to the operation of the first China-Russia Crude Oil Pipeline along the eastern flank of the northern Da Xing'anling Mountains in Northeast China was simulated in a physical model test (with a similitude ratio of 1/73) in a geotechnical centrifuge. Two pipes of a supported and an unsupported section were evaluated over a testing period for simulating 20 years of actual pipeline operation with seasonal cyclically changing oil and ambient temperatures. The results show that pipe settlement of the supported pipe was 45% of settlement of the unsupported pipe. Settlement for the unsupported section was approximately 35% of the thaw bulb depth below the initial pipe elevation, only 30% of that for the supported pipe due to the influence of the supports. The final thaw bulbs extended approximately 3.6 and 1.6 times of the pipe diameter below the unsupported and supported pipe bottom elevations, respectively. The sandbag supports kept frozen during the test period because of cooling effect of the thermosyphons. The maximum bending stress induced over the 20 m span length from bearing of the full cover over the pipe would be equivalent to 40% specified minimum yield strength (SMYS). Potential buckling of the pipe should be considered as the ground thaws. This study also offers important data for calibration and validation of numerical simulation models.

Key words: centrifuge test, oil pipeline, frost heave, thermosyphon, thaw settlement, permafrost engineering

Figure 1

Conceptual figure of the mitigative measure for thaw settlement: (a) cross section, (b) longitudinal section"

Table 1

Soil type and properties in prototype and centrifuge model test"

ParameterPrototypeCentrifuge model
GradationHomogeneous organic clay50% silt and 50% kaolin clay
Water content70%59%
Natural unit weight (kN/m3)16.516.6
Plastic limit34.4%25.9%
Liquid limit52.3%40.8%
Plasticity index17.9%14.9%
Liquidity index (IL)1.992.22

Table 2

Pipeline characteristics"

ParameterPrototypeCentrifuge model
Diameter (mm)81311.1
Wall thickness (mm)160.25
Total thickness (insulation + PE jacket) (mm)80+120.6
Operation life20 a33.8 h

Steel grade

Steel SMYS (MPa)

Elastic modulus of steel (GPa)

X65

448

206

Stainless steel 304

205

193

Table 3

Thermal insulation characteristics"

ParameterPrototypeCentrifuge model
Density (kg/m3)60
Heat Capacity (kcal/kg)0.1
Thermal Conductivity (kcal/(m·h·°C))0.030.16

Table 4

Oil temperature"

PrototypeCentrifuge model
Time (Month)Oil temperature (°C)Time (Minute)Oil temperature (°C)
January

1.74

1.67

1.43

1.48

2.18

43/5

2

2

2

2

2

February43/5
March43/5
April43/5
May43/5
June

3.81

6.54

10.0

9.94

8.41

6.32

4.44

61/7

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

July61/7
August61/7
September61/7
October61/7
November61/7
December61/7

Table 5

Thermosyphon characteristics"

ParameterPrototypeCentrifuge model
Diameter (mm)10812.5
Length of evaporator (m)3.50.048
Length of condenser (m)2.5/
Condenser cooling surface (m2)4.38/
Length of adiabatic section (m)30.041
Heat flow (W)72.41
Refrigerator capacity in cold season (kJ)950,6002.444
Surrounding soil temperature (°C)-1-1

Table 6

Air temperature and heat flow of thermosyphon"

TimeAir temperatureHeat flow
PrototypeCentrifuge model (Minute)Prototype (℃)Centrifuge model (℃)Prototype (W)Centrifuge model (W)
January17.5/2-16.83< 072.41
February17.5/2-13.80< 072.41
March69/8-0.72> 000
April69/83.00> 000
May69/810.10> 000
June69/818.00> 000
July69/819.70> 000
August69/816.87> 000
September69/810.87> 000
October69/82.13> 000
November17.5/2-8.40< 072.41
December17.5/2-16.40< 072.41

Table 7

Characteristics of sandbag support"

ParameterPrototypeCentrifuge model
Span of support (m)200.274
Water content (%)saturatedsaturated
Size of bag (width × length × thickness)0.3m×0.6m×0.2m0.027m×0.027m×0.014m
Support width (m)2 m-top, 3m-bottom0.027 (cube)
Support height (m)2 m0.027
Support length (m)1 m0.014

Figure 2

Artificial soil grading curve"

Figure 3

General cross section of centrifuge package"

Figure 4

Strong box and inside layout of pipes and thermosyphons: (a) whole view, (b) inside layout"

Figure 5

Cross section through pipes A and B center (unit: mm)"

Figure 6

Plan view of experiment setup (unit: mm)"

Figure 7

Experiment long section for pipe A"

Figure 8

Experiment long section for pipe B (unit: mm). (a) Thermosyphon 1 section, (b) Thermosyphon 2 section"

Figure 9

Pipe A temperatures with time"

Figure 10

Pipe B temperatures with time"

Figure 11

Temperatures below pipe A with time"

Figure 12

Temperatures below pipe B with time"

Figure 13

Temperature profiles around pipe: (a) pipe A, (b) pipe B"

Figure 14

Thaw front penetration, pipe A and B"

Figure 15

Temperatures of oil, thermosyphon and soil 30 mm below pipe B with time"

Figure 16

Temperatures of thermosyphons with time"

Figure 17

Heat flow in thermosyphons with time"

Figure 18

Temperature of air and soil surface with time"

Figure 19

LVDT measurements: (a) pipe A, (b) pipe B"

Figure 20

Pore pressure at pipe A invert level with (a) time and with (b) thaw settlement"

Figure 21

Water content profile"

Figure 22

Typical processed CAT scan image: (a) pipe A, -20 mm from pipe center, (b) pipe B, -50 mm from pipe center"

Figure 23

Areas of settlement (Ast) and thawed soil (Ath) and thaw strain (TS) on CAT images along pipes: (a) pipe A, (b) pipe B"

Figure 24

Development of thaw front and pipe settlement"

Figure 25

Development of thaw front and pipe settlement, pipe A"

Figure 26

Temporal development of thaw front and pipe settlement: (a) pipe A, (b) pipe B"

Figure 27

Conceptual thaw bulb development"

Figure 28

Strain gage response"

Figure 29

Zoomed strain gag e response"

Figure 30

Strain and deformation profiles"

Figure 31

Local deformation comparison adjacent to SGs 1, 2 and 6 for pipe B"

Figure 32

Flexural strain profile estimates"

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