Feasibility assessment of implementing energy pile-based snowmelt system on a practical bridge deck in diverse climate conditions across China

The accumulation of snow on roads poses substantial challenges to traffic flow, incurring profound human safety concerns and considerable financial losses. To address this issue, a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution is presented in the form of an energy pile-based snowmelt system. This research provides a comprehensive framework, which integrates the principle of bridge deck energy balance and numerical models of energy pile and practical bridge deck, aiming to evaluate the feasibility of the system in diverse climatic zones across China. First, the long-term climate and geography data pertaining to the snowmelt heat flux demand for the investigated climate regions are gathered and correlated. The Pearson Correlation Coefficients (PCCs) of each parameter (99 % confidence interval) elucidate the strongest correlation between ambient temperature and heat flux demand. Employing the proposed framework, the subsequent feasibility assessment demonstrates that the system's snow-melting effect varies with regional climate and snowmelt targets, and when real-time snow-melting is nonessential (snow-free area ratio, Ar, with values of 0 and 0.5), the system is feasible in most cities except Mohe, where the ambient temperature (Ta) reaches −28.74 °C and the snowfall rate water equivalent (s) is 1.56 mm/h. However, the system fails to meet the real-time snow-melting goal (Ar = 1) when it is located in extreme climate (Ta < −17 °C or s > 1 mm/h). The findings also reveal that snowmelt systems exhibit consistent behavior within the same climate zone. The study provides valuable insights into the practical application of energy pile-based snowmelt systems in different climate conditions, and highlights the critical role of climate considerations in the successful implementation of such innovative technologies.