Thermal stabilization of permafrost with thermosyphons

Foundation design techniques in cold regions include the use of thermosyphons for subgrade cooling. These passive heat transfer devices have been used under buildings, roads, railroads, pipelines and airfields. Laboratory tests were conducted on a full-size commercial, two-phase themosyphon in CRREL's atmospheric wind tunnel. The component thermal resistances of an in-place thermosyphon were calculated. It was determined that the thermal resistances associated with conduction through the soil and heat transfer from the fins to the air are dominant.