HYDROCARBON
ENGINEERING
67
Control
the heat
Ground freezing/frost
heave
Ground freezing occurs when water present in
the ground or soil changes from liquid to solid
(ice), which typically occurs at temperatures
below 0˚C (32˚F). The rate at which soil freezes
depends upon its thermal properties, water
content and the exposed temperature of the
ground.
1
Ground expansion due to ice formation
in the soil may cause vertical displacement of
the ground creating frost heave, which can cause
severe damage to above ground structures such
as building or tank foundations.
Cryogenic storage/LNG tank foundations
(a.k.a. the tank base) require heating systems
Daniel Potter and
Derya Turgay-Herz,
eltherm GmbH, Germany,
detail the process of
engineering design
and implementation of
electrical heat tracing
systems for frost heave
prevention of large scale
cryogenic LNG storage
tank systems.
HYDROCARBON
ENGINEERING
67
