This question occurred to me when I looked into the fridge, where the water had frozen due to very low temperatures. If the water freezes due to low temperatures (0 degrees Celsius), then how can it flow through pipes in the cold countries (especially near the north pole) where the temperature is almost always below 0 degrees Celsius, especially in the cold months?
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$\begingroup$ Sure cold countries find ways to prevent this because they expect these cold weathers but it happened more than once to me that I came home from vacation and the water line was completely frozen because it wasn't used. $\endgroup$– JustanotherchemistMar 16, 2018 at 10:58
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2 Answers
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From the Wikipedia page on Frost Line
The frost line—also known as frost depth or freezing depth—is most commonly the depth to which the groundwater in soil is expected to freeze. The frost depth depends on the climatic conditions of an area, the heat transfer properties of the soil and adjacent materials, and on nearby heat sources. For example, snow cover and asphalt insulate the ground and homes can heat the ground (see also heat island). The line varies by latitude, it is deeper closer to the poles.
So they just dig the pipes in deep.
Canada: Can use table of estimates based on freezing index degree days. Ontario: Map of frost penetration depths for Southern
- Ottawa: 1.8 metres (5.9 ft) [7][8]
- Windsor: 1.0 metre (3.3 ft) [7][8]
Here's a soil temperature vs depth graph.
Source
answered Mar 15, 2018 at 5:33
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$\begingroup$ Source of picture? Also flow of water (hindering freezing) may also influence this. $\endgroup$– MithoronMar 15, 2018 at 17:41
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In addition to @AvnishKabaj's answer, I'd like to add that in some places, people use thick pipes, and surround water pipes with more water to stop the water from freezing and then making pipes burst. If water freezes, it not only won't flow, it'll often cause pipes to burst due to the expansion of ice (between $4^o$ to $0^o$C due to air gaps in ice. See Water Pipes Burst)
Surrounding with water helps as water has a really high specific heat ($1$ $cal $ $kg^{-1}$ $K^{-1}$). As a result, a lot of heat needs to be lost before the water actually freezes. (Source: Concise Physics for Class X, Selina Publishers).
From the Wikipedia Article on Pipe Insulation,
Since some water pipes are located either outside or in unheated areas where the ambient temperature may occasionally drop below the freezing point of water, any water in the pipework may potentially freeze. When water freezes it expands and this expansion can cause failure of a pipe system in any one of a number of ways.
Pipe insulation cannot prevent the freezing of standing water in pipework, but it can increase the time required for freezing to occur—thereby reducing the risk of the water in the pipes freezing. For this reason, it is recommended to insulate pipework at risk of freezing, and local water-supply regulations may require pipe insulation be applied to pipework to reduce the risk of pipe freezing.
This is just another method by which water in pipes is prevented from freezing, and how it's flow is maintained in cold countries.
