HEATING ASPHALT WITH A PASSIVE SOLAR UNIT. FINAL REPORT

This report describes a passive solar heating system for a 12,000 gallon asphalt storage tank. The solar system uses a thermosiphoning method with air as the heat transfer medium. The collectors were fabricated especially for the installation. As the air was heated in the collectors, the air moved up the collector into a duct surrounding the tank. The tank skin was used as the heat exchanger. As heat transfer occurred the cooled air moved to the top of the duct around the tank and migrated down the opposite side of the tank, back into the collector to be reheated and recirculated. During periods of high solar flux, air temperatures of 200 degrees F were found and air velocities inside the duct were as large as 1 1/2 Fps. The asphalt temperatures were generally maintained around 130 degrees F during the summer months and dropped as low as 70 degrees F during the winter months. The asphalt heated was an emulsion. The design, plans, specifications and construction costs are included.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Study title: Passive Solar Heating.
• Corporate Authors:

  Texas State Department of Highways & Public Transp

  P.O. Box 5051
  Austin, TX  United States  78763
• Authors:
  • Hankins, K D
  • Montieth, R
• Publication Date: 1984-8

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 89 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Absorbents; Asphalt; Construction; Costs; Design; Emulsified asphalt; Heat transfer; Seasons; Solar energy; Solar power generation; Specifications; Storage facilities
• Uncontrolled Terms: Construction costs; Seasonal variations
• Old TRIS Terms: Asphalt storage; Passive absorbers
• Subject Areas: Construction; Design; Finance; Highways; Materials; Terminals and Facilities; I31: Bituminous Binders and Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00457081
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Federal Highway Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/TX-86/08+272-1F
• Contract Numbers: 1-10-81-272
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Aug 27 2004 9:39PM