Methods of Modifying Surface Coverings to Embed Conduits Therein

Abstract

Methods of modifying surface coverings to embed conduits therein to collect solar heat energy including grinding away a portion of the surface covering, installing a network of conduits in the recess and filling the recess to cover the conduits with a material capable of transferring heat from solar radiation to the conduits and a method for modifying a surface covering to embed conduits therein to collect solar heat energy including softening the surface covering, forming a channel in the softened surface covering, pressing a conduit into the channel and filling the channel with thermal conductive material to cover the conduit.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION[0001]This application claims priority from prior provisional patent application Ser. No. 61 / 138,143 filed Dec. 17, 2008, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention pertains to obtaining and using power / energy from man-made structures including manufactured (paved) surfaces and, more particularly, modifying pre-existing surface coverings to create power / energy in the form of heat obtained from solar radiation for use in the operation of energy conversion equipment, such as chillers, hot water supplies, heat pumps, organic Rankine cycle engines for mechanically generating electricity, water purification and distillation for buildings and / or other facilities.[0004]2. Brief Discussion of the Related Art[0005]Surfaces and structures are heated by solar radiation during the course of a typical sunny day. A typical asphalt or concrete s...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0017]Systems utilizing modified surface coverings formed in accordance with the present invention use the heat absorbed by surfaces from incident solar radiation to produce energy in various forms. The systems can use embedded thermally conductive materials or fluid carrying pipes / conduits in pavement as a structure to transfer heat for multiple uses. A heated fluid will first be moved to a heat exchanger. The heat produced can be used for hot water for hotels, laundromats, car washes, pre-heating of boilers, or chemical / industrial processes to name a few. The systems can also produce electrical power through a low temperature generator such as one powered by an organic Rankine cycle engine. Heat from the systems can drive an absorptive or adsorptive chiller to produce an air conditioning or cooling system. The systems can be used in conjunction with or in series with another source, such as a Concentrated Solar Power system, to produce higher temperatures for more efficient power generation. Designs to improve efficiencies of the system include the use of thermally conductive roadway aggregates, low emissivity coatings, and use of guardrails, bridges and other thermally conductive structures as a heat source or heat transfer method. The system heat source can be used for pasteurization, distillation and the like therefore permitting use for water purification.

[0018]The system can use the aggregate itself as the conductive material instead of another thermally conductive material that would not normally be part of the HMA (hot mix asphalt). If thermally conductive materials are not available locally, they can be purchased and transported from non-local sources. A conductive layer can be put down within the surface to reduce the costs of what may be a more expensive aggregate material. This serves to increase the heat travel to essential regions for practical conversion. The heat collected from such systems can be used to run a thermal cycle engine (e.g., an organic Rankine cycle engine), a heat pump, or a chiller. The heat energy is used to heat a fluid such as water or refrigerant that is used in such equipment. This provides a means of converting raw heat into more tangible or useful applications. A network of pipes / conduits can lead from the source (manufactured surface covering, such as a paved surface or structure) to the drain (energy conversion unit or heat exchanger). The pipes / conduits can be installed in a number of ways and can be made of various materials and geometries. Regardless of how they are installed, the commonality is the intention of removing heat from the pipes / conduits. The system can be used in conjunction with other energy sources, namely geothermal, photovoltaic, and biofuel. Additional uses include the use of these systems as a means to purify, decontaminate, desalinate, and clean water. Heat can be derived from buildings and roadway structures.

[0019]A low temperature source such as geothermal, flat plate or paved surface, (roadway power system) can have its temperatures bolstered by a supplementary heating source. This source could be solar driven, e.g. concentrated solar power (CSP), parabolic, dish or a combustion engine, using gas, oil, or another incendiary source. These elevated temperatures allow use for agriculture, water purification and desalinization, biofuels, hydrogen generation and increased efficiencies with existing methods of energy conversion.

[0020]When using the system to generate electricity, it will relieve part of the dependency on ‘dirty’ power by bringing a new source of ‘green’ electricity generation. It will also help reduce loads on the electrical transmission systems since it will act as distributed generation on-site.

Problems solved by technology

A typical asphalt or concrete surface has good heat-absorbing properties, and the heat energy from such structures is normally wasted and not utilized to its potential.

In recent years, it has become increasingly evident that fossil fuels used to generate energy are finite and that their use is harmful to the environment.

Asphalt, concrete, bituminous roofs and other hard-paved surfaces absorb heat making it unpleasant to walk on a sidewalk in hot weather and increasing the strain on the air conditioning systems of buildings.

Since hot air rises, the hot air traps airborne pollutants, such as auto exhaust, close to the ground adding to complications for pedestrians.

The EPA states that these elevated temperatures from urban heat islands, particularly during the summer, can affect a community's environment and quality of life; the majority negative.

Peak electricity demand, instigated by the urban heat island, inevitably occurs on hot summer weekday afternoons when offices and homes are running cooling systems, lights, and appliances.

The resulting demand for cooling can overload systems and require a utility to institute controlled, rolling brownouts or blackouts to avoid power outages.

Increasing energy demand generally results in greater emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions from power plants.

Increased daytime temperatures, reduced nighttime cooling, and higher air pollution levels associated with urban heat islands can affect human health by contributing to respiratory difficulties, heat exhaustion, non-fatal heat stroke, and heat-related mortality.

Excessive heat events, or abrupt and dramatic temperature increases, are particularly dangerous and can result in above-average rates of mortality.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that from 1979-2003, excessive heat exposure contributed to more than 8,000 premature deaths in the United States.

High pavement and rooftop surface temperatures can heat storm-water runoff.

Rapid temperature changes in aquatic ecosystems resulting from warm storm-water runoff can be particularly stressful, even fatal, to aquatic life.

These experiments have been motivated, in large part, by a concern that gases emitted by internal combustion engines could harm humans by adversely affecting their environment.

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