01620186

Component

https://doi.org/10.3141/2628-02

The goal of this study was to develop a prototype for harvesting thermoelectric energy from asphalt pavement roadways. This emerging research field encompasses technologies that capture the existing thermal energy in pavements to generate electricity without depleting natural resources. In lower latitudes, such as south Texas, the asphalt pavement surface temperature in the summer can reach 55ºC because of solar radiation. Soil temperatures below the pavement, however, are roughly constant (i.e., 27ºC to 33ºC) at relatively shallow depths (150 mm). This thermal gradient between the surface temperature and the pavement substrata can be used to generate electrical power through thermoelectric generators (TEGs). The proposed prototype collects heat energy from the pavement surface and transfers the energy to a TEG embedded in the subgrade at the edge of the pavement shoulder. Evaluation of this prototype was carried out through finite element analysis, laboratory testing, and field experiments. The results suggest that the 64- × 64-mm TEG prototype can generate an average of 10 mW of electric power continuously over a period of 8 h in the weather conditions in south Texas. Scaling up this prototype by using multiple TEG units could generate sufficient electricity to sustainably power low-watt LED lights and roadway and traffic sensors in off-grid, remote areas.

01629808

17-05481

English

pp 12–22

2017

Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board

9780309441834

Digital/other

Figures (10) ; References (11) ; Tables (6)

Asphalt pavements; Energy conversion; Prototypes; Temperature gradients

Energy harvesting; Thermoelectric cells

Energy; Environment; Highways; Materials; Pavements

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Dec 8 2016 12:10PM

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