ABSTRACT
This paper aimed at developing thermal energy harvesting prototype from roadways. Energy harvesting technologies from pavement is a state of art which involves technologies that capture the heat energy inpavements, transforms it to electrical energy. The proposed system collects heat energy from the pavement surface and transfers to thermoelectric generators module along the pavement side. Field demonstration, laboratory testing and finite element simulation suggested that electric energy is approximately 10 mW per thermoelectric module. At scalable system, the produced energy can be used for LED street illuminating or empowering roadway monitoring devices inserted within the pavement in off-grid areas. Furthermore, changes in the response of these sensors can be used as a means of monitoring the health of the pavement layers, where they are installed. This paper will demonstrate finite element simulation on the capability of the proposed system and preliminary findings on the output power generation.
