Solar Park South - International Online -  project 122 of 201	browse projects: prev | next
Via AcquaSole	page 2 (page 1)
frits hermans (netherlands)
Water is pumped through AcquaSole in order to absorb heat from the sun. The solar heat is conducted to a heat exchanger which is attached to a Stirling engine. The Stirling engine drives an electrical generator, thereby delivering electricity to the national grid. The water pressure inside AcquaSole is 10 bar. This creates a rigid, hard plate, ensuring that the forces of traffic loads are spread over the underground surface. FEM simulations showed that even the heaviest truck can easily drive over the AcquaSole. Because AcquaSole is completely made of recycled tires, it has a mass density that is twice as low as that of asphalt or concrete. Therefore, construction of AcquaSole has little influence on the static load of roads and bridges. At limited costs (8 M€), the A3 could provide sustainable power (2 MWe) while function as a highway can be maintained. The original natural character of the area and characteristic viaducts will be preserved for future generations.