Feasibility exploration of nano-thermal rod applied to deicing of tunnel pavement in cold region

Jianguo Wu; Qingzhi Wang; Dongliang Luo; Jianhong Fang; Tian Sun

doi:10.1038/s41598-025-85521-1

Feasibility exploration of nano-thermal rod applied to deicing of tunnel pavement in cold region

Sci Rep. 2025 Jan 9;15(1):1528. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-85521-1.

Authors

Jianguo Wu¹, Qingzhi Wang^{2

3}, Dongliang Luo⁴, Jianhong Fang⁵, Tian Sun⁶

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Energy-Saving Building Materials and Engineering Safety, School of Civil Engineering and Water Resources, Qinghai University, Xining, 810016, Qinghai, China.
² Key Laboratory of Energy-Saving Building Materials and Engineering Safety, School of Civil Engineering and Water Resources, Qinghai University, Xining, 810016, Qinghai, China. [email protected].
³ Key Laboratory of Highway Construction and Maintenance Technology in Permafrost Regions, Qinghai Scientific Research Observation Base, Ministry of Transport, Xining, 810016, Qinghai, China. [email protected].
⁴ Kye Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
⁵ Key Laboratory of Highway Construction and Maintenance Technology in Permafrost Regions, Qinghai Scientific Research Observation Base, Ministry of Transport, Xining, 810016, Qinghai, China.
⁶ Nanjing ShengNuo Heat Pipe Limited Company, Nanjing, 210009, China.

PMID: 39789090
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-85521-1

Abstract

This study investigates the feasibility of using nano-thermal rod for deicing tunnel pavements in cold region. The heating performance of the nano-thermal rod was compared with that of carbon fiber heating wire under low voltage conditions. Experimental studies were conducted in a controlled environmental chamber to evaluate the effects of arrangement parameters (spacing, buried depth, input power) and environmental factors (ambient temperature and moisture) on heating rate and effectiveness. Results show that the nano-thermal rod achieves a working temperature of 60℃ at 3.9 V, with higher heating efficiency than carbon fiber heating wire. Input power and ambient temperature were found to have the greatest influence on heating performance. Surface moisture was shown to adversely affect deicing. The experimental results, verified through COMSOL Multiphysics simulations, demonstrated an error of less than 1.45℃. The findings confirm the feasibility of using nano-thermal rod for efficient deicing of tunnel pavements in cold region.

Keywords: Cold region; Influencing factors; Nano-thermal rod; Tunnel pavement deicing.

Abstract

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