Energy Harvesting From Black Top Pavement Using Thermoelectric Technology In Laboratory

Research Article
Praloy Das and Suman S.K
DOI: 
http://dx.doi.org/10.24327/ijrsr.2019.1003.3226
Subject: 
Engineering
KeyWords: 
Energy harvesting, thermoelectric generator, prototype model, temperature difference, amplifier system
Abstract: 

In this paper energy harvesting is carried out from black top pavementmodel using thermoelectric generator (TEG) in the laboratory. TEG works on the basis of temperature difference between hot and cold side. A prototype model of 350 mm x 350 mm x 100 mm dimension was prepared in the laboratory. TEG hot surface was connected with the vapor chamber inserted in the 20 mm below the slab surface and cold side was exposed in the atmosphere. To simulate the solar radiation 500 W halogen lamp was used. It has been found that the output voltage was 951 mV for the temperature difference of 40°C. An amplifier system was also developed to amplify the output voltage up toapplication limit. This indicates Road Energy Harvesting System (REHS) can produce up to 175 kWh energy from a road of 1 km stretch in 8.5 hours. It has been also found that, this energy can be increased by increasing the bitumen content in the concrete mix and it gives 10% more energy in Bituminous Concrete than Dense Bituminous Macadam. Cost benefit analysis showed that REHS is 13% cost efficient in case of energy harvesting from road.