Characteristics and application of road absorbing solar energy

Abstract

If the heat of road surface can be stored in summer, the road surface temperature will be decreased to prevent permanent deformation of pavement. Besides, if the heat stored is released, it can supply heat for buildings or raise the road surface temperature for snow melting in winter. A road-solar energy system was built in this study, and the heat transfer mechanism and effect of the system were analyzed according to the monitored solar radiant heat, the solar energy absorbed by road and the heat stored by soil. The results showed that the road surface temperature was mainly affected by solar radiation, but the effect is hysteretic in nature. The temperature of the solar road surface was 3°C–6°C lower than that of the ordinary road surface. The temperature of the solar road along the vertical direction was 2°C–5°C lower than that of the ordinary road. The temperature difference increased as the distance to the heat transfer tubes decreased. The average solar collector efficiency of the system was 14.4%, and the average solar absorptivity of road surface was 36%.

Keywords

solar energy / road-solar energy system / road surface temperature / solar absorptivity of road surface / solar collector efficiency of system

References

[1] Bijsterveld W T V, Houben L J M, Scarpas A, Molenaar A A A. Using pavement as solar collector on pavement temperature and structural response. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2001, 1778: 140–148

[2] Mallick R B, Chen B L, Bhowmick S, Hulen M S. Capturing solar energy from asphalt pavements. In: Proceedings of International Symposium on Asphalt Pavements and Environment 2008. Zurich, Switzerland, 2008, 161–172172

[3] Loomans M, Oversloot H, de Bondt A, Jansen R, van Rij H. Design tool for the thermal energy potential of asphalt pavements. In: Proceedings of Eighth International Building Performance Simulation Association Conference. Eindhoven, the Netherlands, 2003, 745–752

[4] Chen M Y. Research on solar energy collection using asphalt pavement. Dissertation for the Master’s Degree. Wuhan, China: Wuhan University of Technology, 2010, 1–6

[5] von Bijsterveld W T, de Bondt A H. Structural aspects of pavement heating and cooling systems. In: Proceedings of the 3rd International Symposium on Finite Elements. Amsterdam, the Netherlands, 2002 (15 pages)

[6] The Scottish Government. Scotland’s Renewable Heat Strategy: Recommendations to Scottish Ministers. Renewable Heat Group (RHG) Report, 2008

[7] Wang Q Y, Li W Z. Research on roadbed heat storage and snow-melting mechanism in solar-heat storage in soil snow-melting systems. Dissertation for the Master’s Degree. Dalian, China: Dalian University of Technology, 2007, 47–57

[8] Wang Q Y, Li W Z. Research on snow-melting mechanism in solar-heat storage in soil snow-melting systems. Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica, 2007, 29(11): 1385–1389 (in Chinese)

[9] Liu K. Study on cement concrete pavement of snow melting and deicing. Dissertation for the Master’s Degree. Xi’an, China: Chang’an University, 2010, 32–41

[10] Han Z D. Research on temperature field of road structure. Dissertation for the Master’s Degree. Xi’an, China: Chang’an University, 2001, 15-72

[11] Ksaibati K, Yavuzturk C. Assessment of temperature fluctuations in asphalt pavements due to thermal environmental conditions using a two-dimensional transient finite difference approach. MPC Report No. 02-136, 2002

[12] Hermansson A.Simulation model for calculating pavement temperature including maximum temperature. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2007, 1699: 134–141

[13] Hsieh C K, Qin C, Ryder E E. Development of computer modeling for prediction of temperature distribution inside concrete pavement. Finial Report to Florida Department of Transportation. Report number: FL/DOT/SMO/90-374, 1989

[14] Luca J, Mrawira D. Solar-convection simulator for laboratory investigation of transient temperature fluctuation in HMAC pavements. In: Transportation Research Board 83rd Annual Meeting. Washington, USA, 2004, 3533–3534

[15] Joseph L. Investigation of thermal properties and transient temperature distribution of asphalt concrete. Dissertation for the Master’s Degree. New Brunswick, Canada: University of New Brunswick Fredericton, 2003

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Higher Education Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg