Something Interesting

While searching for some information this morning I found this and thought I would share with all of you.

It comes from the IEA Heat Pump Centre's newletter, Volume 20, No.2/2002.

Thermoroad –Applied Peltier technology

Netherlands

- Road asphalt may find

another use in the near future. By applying

Peltier elements in the road surface and
underground, small-scale electricity can be
generated. Highway tests in the Netherlands
are being conducted to prove the technical
concept.
In summer, the high temperature in the
asphalt layer and the low temperature of the
groundwater create a voltage potential,
which produces electricity in the Peltier
elements. In winter, the system works the
other way around. Five U-shape copper
prefab elements containing cables,
groundwater pipes and other hardware have
been installed across the road. The Peltier
elements are mounted on the copper
elements. A top layer of 6 mm highconductivity,
water-resistant asphalt protects
the energy system. The system produces
20 kWh of electricity per m

2 of road

annually, as the result of an expected

temperature differential of 2 to 10°C.
Source: Techniek 28 June 2002 (in Dutch)

Do they save the summer generated power so that the road can be heated in the winter I wonder.

Hi Brian,

I just don't know what they do with this, other than a sexy technology.

One other thing I have seen related to road construction is using a geothermal heat pump.

Apparently, the GHP is used to pull heat from the ground and then the heat is used to heat bridge decks to prevent ice formation. Sort of another form of walkway or driveway snow melting.

This one appears practical in the implementation at least. It would be interesting to have some solid facts to back this up. Differences in cost of maintenance, police involvement due to accidents, prolonged bridge life due to more stable temperatures, etc.

it's really not a bad idea:) maybe it can supply the road light like solar power.

Hi LC,

That may be a good idea if LED lights get cheap enough. They use less power for an equivalent amount of light I believe, and probably last longer than a sodium or mercury vapor lamps.

One thing I am fairly sure of is, someone will figure out how to do it if they have enough money and time.:D

Here in Canada all most all road lights are LED for trafic and pedestrian, the main lamps are Sodium vapour. The crossing lights have a solar cell on each side of the road that poweres them and charges their back up :)

Hey US_Iceman, your avatar is of a screw vacuum pump? i just helped rebuild a few of them the other day. wild azz pumps!!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Grant_84

Hey US_Iceman, your avatar is of a screw vacuum pump?

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Actually, they are rotors from a screw compressor, but close enough.;)