Characteristics and application of road absorbing solar energy

doi:10.1007/s11708-013-0278-2

Front Energ

2013, Vol. 7

Issue (4) : 525-534 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11708-013-0278-2

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Characteristics and application of road absorbing solar energy

Zhihua ZHOU¹(

), Shan HU¹, Xiaoyan ZHANG¹, Jian ZUO²

1. School of Environmental Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China; 2. School of Natural and Built Environments, University of South Australia, Adelaide 5000, Australia

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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

Corresponding Author(s): ZHOU Zhihua,Email:zhuazhou@163.com

Issue Date: 05 December 2013

Cite this article:

Zhihua ZHOU,Shan HU,Xiaoyan ZHANG, et al. Characteristics and application of road absorbing solar energy[J]. Front Energ, 2013, 7(4): 525-534.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fie/EN/10.1007/s11708-013-0278-2
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fie/EN/Y2013/V7/I4/525

Fig.1 Schematic diagrams of road-solar energy system

Fig.2 Experiment site

Tab.1 Structural materials of road

Fig.3 Layout of heat exchanger tube and temperature measuring point
(a) Layout of heat transfer tubes; (b) temperature sensor; (c) measuring points; (d) temperature measuring points layout of 1-1 profile

Fig.4 Data acquisition system
1-Temperature acquisition module; 2-AD conversion module; 3-transmitter; 4-24 V power converter; 5-control switch

Fig.5 Outdoor temperature sensor and solar radiometer
(a) Outdoor temperature sensor; (b) solar radiometer

Fig.6 Temperature of ordinary road surface

Tab.2 Road surface temperature, solar radiation intensity and outdoor temperature

Fig.7 Temperature of solar road surface

Fig.8 Comparison of fitted temperature and measured temperature of solar road surface

Fig.9 Vertical average temperature of ordinary road

Fig.10 Vertical average temperature of solar road

Fig.11 Vertical temperature difference of ordinary road and solar road

Fig.12 Heat absorption per unit area of system and net heat absorbed by road surface

Fig.13 Solar absorptivity of road surface and solar collection efficiency of system

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