Roadway Conduit Segments with Airflow Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transportation methods, including roadways and railways, face significant aerodynamic drag energy losses that increase nonlinearly with velocity, leading to high energy consumption and costs.
Innovation Solution
The development of a roadway conduit system that includes preformed segments, air movers, and renewable energy sources to circulate airflow within the conduit, reducing aerodynamic drag and energy consumption for vehicles traveling through it.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If vehicles travel on open roadways, then vehicles can move freely without structural constraints, but aerodynamic drag energy losses increase nonlinearly with velocity
Solution Approach 1:
The conduit is divided into multiple precast concrete segments that can be assembled in place, reducing construction complexity while maintaining the enclosed structure necessary to eliminate aerodynamic drag
Solution Approach 2:
The roadway is transformed from an open surface structure to an enclosed three-dimensional conduit, creating a controlled airflow environment that eliminates aerodynamic drag while allowing vehicle movement
2Use of energy by moving object
If aerodynamic drag is eliminated through conduit systems, then energy consumption decreases, but construction costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The conduit is constructed from standardized precast concrete segments that can be manufactured off-site and assembled in place, reducing overall construction costs while maintaining the enclosed structure
Solution Approach 2:
Air movers are implemented to actively manage airflow within the conduit, creating a feedback system that optimizes energy efficiency by reducing aerodynamic drag on vehicles
3Use of energy by moving object
If air flow is circulated within the conduit, then aerodynamic drag on vehicles is reduced, but energy is required to operate air movers
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed to potentially use vehicle movement itself to drive airflow through the conduit, eliminating or reducing the need for external air movers and their associated energy consumption
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The roadway conduit system significantly reduces the energy demand of vehicles by eliminating aerodynamic drag, increasing vehicle range, and lowering construction and operational costs, making it a more efficient and cost-effective transportation method.
Implementation Method 1
at least one air mover configured to circulate an airflow in the roadway conduit volume in a direction of at least one of the traveling vehicles
Data Source
AI summary
A roadway conduit system includes a roadway conduit section that includes a floor portion with roadway surface configured to receive traveling vehicles, a ceiling portion, and at least one sidewall portion coupled to the floor portion and the ceiling portion such that the floor, ceiling, and at least one sidewall portions define a roadway conduit volume through which the traveling vehicles traverse the roadway conduit section. The roadway conduit section includes at least two fixedly connected preformed segments. The roadway conduit system also includes a roadway conduit ingress coupled to a first location of the roadway conduit section; a roadway conduit egress coupled to a second location of the roadway conduit section; and at least one air mover configured to circulate an airflow in the roadway conduit volume in a direction of at least one of the traveling vehicles.