Device and method for ground freezing

摘要

The soil is frozen in the surrounding area in order to block the ground water when a tunnel is to be build. A multitude of tubes is inserted into the soil and filled with fluid nitrogen, resulting in the creation of a solid block suitable for the use of a tunnel boring machine. The tubes are made at least partially of a material breaking easily when touched by the machine. A compound of a synthetic material and metal or carbon is sufficiently brittle as well as thermal conductive. An independent claim is given for a method of freezing the soil using the tubes.