Are above-ground pipelines more prone to freezing, or are underground pipelines? Why?
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Are above-ground pipelines more prone to freezing, or are underground pipelines? Why?
On the ground; it is less affected by temperature underground
Above-ground pipelines are prone to freezing and are affected by changes in external temperatures, while underground pipelines experience less variation; however, they are more difficult to inspect and maintain, and their installation costs are higher than those of above-ground pipelines. That’s why refineries generally use above-ground pipelines these days
What has been said above makes sense, but it’s not absolute; freezing in pipelines usually occurs in sections that are not used for oil transportation for long periods of time, or in sections with poor insulation and heating.
Pipelines buried below the permafrost layer will not freeze
Pipelines buried beneath the permafrost layer are less likely to freeze. The thickness of the permafrost layer varies from region to region; please refer to relevant literature for more information!
The upper end of the pipeline should be 1.8 m above the lower edge of the permafrost layer