Publication
Title
Lessons learnt from thermo-mechanical feasibility assessment of pavement solar collectors using a FE-ANN approach
Author
Abstract
This study presents a feasibility assessment of harvesting heat from asphalt pavement and a structural performance evaluation of a Pavement Solar Collector (PSC) in Utrecht, The Netherlands. The potential for interface failure was evaluated through experimental tests to determine the yield shear stress/strength ratio (YR) parameter. Subsequently, pavement responses were computed for two scenarios (with and without PSC) to evaluate damage factors using a bottom-up fatigue cracking approach. This study introduces a hybrid approach, combining Finite Element (FE) analysis with Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) to significantly reduce the computational time required for thermal FE simulations. This FE-ANN prediction model is employed to conduct parametric studies on three key input parameters of PSC systems: pipe embedment depth, inlet supply temperature, and pipe section length. The structural response analysis showed that the YR remained below 0.25 for temperatures below 32.5 degrees C, peaking at 0.68 for 45 degrees C, indicating a minimal risk of interface shear failure. Cumulative damage factor calculations for the two scenarios showed that operating the PSC system between May and September could yield an 18% reduction in overall damage. It was also established that pipe section length exerted the most profound influence on the thermal responses of the PSC among the three selected parameters. The investigation revealed that a PSC system's total annual heat harvesting capacity could achieve a noteworthy 1.17 GJ/m2, accompanied by an average outlet water temperature of 15 degrees C. Moreover, an increase in pipe section length from 50 to 300 m resulted in a significant decrease of up to 50% in the total annual heat harvest capacity of the PSC system while simultaneously causing the outlet temperature to rise to 30 degrees C.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Case Studies in Construction Materials
Publication
2023
ISSN
22145095
2214-5095
DOI
10.1016/J.CSCM.2023.E02582
Volume/pages
19 (2023) , p. 1-16
Article Reference
e02582
ISI
001097575200001
Medium
E-only publicatie
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 23.10.2023
Last edited 25.04.2024
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