Researchers in Massachusetts are working on a way to turn that excess heat into usable energy via water pipes. Their paper, released this week at the International Symposium on Asphalt Pavements and Environment in Zurich, speculates that asphalt roads could be better than solar panels in gathering energy.
"The significance of this concept lies in the fact that the massive installed base of parking lots and roadways creates a low-cost solar collector an order of magnitude more productive than traditional solar cells. The significantly high surface area can offset the expected lower efficiency (compared to traditional solar cells) by several orders of magnitude, and hence result in significantly lower cost per unit of power produced," according to the paper.
The researchers used computer modeling and small-scale prototypes to test alternatives to pipes for transferring asphalt heat to water. It found that the depth of the heat exchanger was critical and that a material with higher heat conductivity, such as quartzite, can be added to asphalt to improve heat transfer.
The hot water from the roads could be used in neighboring buildings, something that has already been done in the Netherlands. A more sophisticated approach would be to convert the heat into electricity using thermoelectric modules.
"Our preliminary results provide a promising proof of concept for what could be a very important future source of renewable, pollution-free energy for our nation. And it has been there all along, right under our feet," Rajib Mallick, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, said in a statement.
Tapping the hot asphalt jungle for energy – CNET
Just Follow the Solar Brick Road - The Discovery Channel
Photo credit: Glenn Pebley
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