Thermophysical optimization of specialized concrete pavement materials for collection of surface heat energy and applications for shallow heat storage

Dehdezi, Pejman Keikhaei; Hall, Matthew R.; Dawson, Andrew

Abstract

There is great potential to use pavement structures to collect and/or store solar energy for the heating and cooling of adjacent buildings, e.g. airport terminals, shopping malls, etc. Therefore, pavement materials comprising both conventional and unconventional concrete mixtures with a wide range of densities, thermal conductivities, specific heat capacities, and thermal diffusivities were investigated. Their thermo-physical properties were then used as inputs to a one dimensional transient heat transport model in order to evaluate the temperature changes at the various depths at which heat might be abstracted or stored. The results indicated that a high diffusivity pavement, e.g. incorporating high conductive aggregates and/or metallic fibres, can significantly enhance heat transfer as well as reduction of thermal stresses across the concrete slab. On the other hand a low diffusivity concrete can induce a more stable temperature at shallower depth enabling easier heat storage in the pavement as well as helping to reduce the risk of damage due to freeze-thaw cycling in cold regions.

Citation

Dehdezi, P. K., Hall, M. R., & Dawson, A. (2011). Thermophysical optimization of specialized concrete pavement materials for collection of surface heat energy and applications for shallow heat storage. Transportation Research Record, 2240, https://doi.org/10.3141/2240-13

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 30, 2011
• Publication Date: Sep 30, 2011
• Deposit Date: Apr 26, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 26, 2017
• Journal: Transportation Research Record
• Electronic ISSN: 2169-4052
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 2240
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3141/2240-13
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/708159
• Publisher URL: http://trrjournalonline.trb.org/doi/abs/10.3141/2240-13
• Contract Date: Apr 26, 2017