by "Rainbow" (rainbeaux)
Published 02/06/2017 at 09:40
by "Rainbow" (rainbeaux)
Published 02/06/2017 at 09:40
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STARS: 0
You know those little spinning reflective pinwheel things by construction sites that act as a traffic-powered beacon? What if we took the same idea and attached one to every street light at the center of the interstate with a little generator inside. Every light is then powered by the wind from the cars driving past. They can store energy, too, and use it very slowly, leaving the lights fairly dim when there is hardly any traffic, and allowing them to get increasingly brighter as more cars approach. During the day, the generated power can be redirected to the city’s main grid.
"Azrek" (azrek)
02/06/2017 at 09:45, STARS: 0
Without getting too nerdy...the idea seems sound, but you have to keep in mind the amount of power the Lights would need and how fast (amount of traffic) you’d need to make this viable.
The problem with solar and wind power is the need for 1 constant source of material to keep the batteries charged. So you can have a great wind generator, but on days with no wind your battery better be HUGE or you’ll just be without.
We have some school warning lights that are solar powered, but still are attached to a large battery pack with reserve power to the grid if it can’t access it.
Now how much would it cost to install these devices and maintain them. I’d rather my cities spend their money on getting more water resources than this.
"CalzoneGolem" (calzonegolem)
02/06/2017 at 09:47, STARS: 1
http://wakeup-world.com/2011/05/30/new-technology-converts-sound-into-electricity/
"Rainbow" (rainbeaux)
02/06/2017 at 09:49, STARS: 0
The cost is the only major downside, really. As for the source of wind, it would be essentially constant as it relies solely on passing cars to push the air around. This, of course, would only be viable in relatively high-traffic areas, though.
Of course, if each windmill powered the lights two or three further down the road (in each direction) it would still help with visibility even if only one car passes by at a time and the lights are just off otherwise. Of course, THAT would be when the cost is truly just ridiculously overkill.
"bhtooefr" (bhtooefr)
02/06/2017 at 09:51, STARS: 2
Yeah, I’m thinking the amount of harvested energy would be so small as to be useless for the goal.
The FHWA doesn’t seem to be looking into it, even as they’re looking into energy harvesting from the pavement (which would increase rolling resistance for cars using the road, and would be rather inefficient...): https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/real_estate/publications/alternative_uses_of_highway_right-of-way/rep03.cfm
"Azrek" (azrek)
02/06/2017 at 10:03, STARS: 1
Cost and size are the issues. I am not sure the exact size the fans would have to be to spin, capture energy and place it in a massive battery.
And what happens on days where there is little/no traffic? Such as construction, accident or holidays.
So the idea makes sense, but I think if you really wanted to do something like this I’d make it a multi-tier powered system. Add a Solar panel that is high winds rated, wind generators and I’d even debate putting in a water well (water is captured and pushes a waterwheel and generates). So you get pretty much everything at every time.
"Svend" (svend)
02/06/2017 at 10:03, STARS: 2
They are okay for low energy usage signs but for street lights the wind and solar generators wouldn’t be sufficient, they’d also be prone to damage from idiots and vandals.
We have some in parks over paths and in rural areas.
"jariten1781" (jariten1781)
02/06/2017 at 10:13, STARS: 1
For full street lamp usage you’d be looking at a minimum of 50-60W for the latest and greatest LED bulbs. You’re not getting that from passing autos (or even semis). Not even taking into account that you’d have to mount a turbine on every light which would never recoup in cost. Now, you might be able to do something like this to light up some banks of very low output roadmarkers (think glowing Bott’s Dots), but we don’t really put those anywhere right now and it’d still cost a lot more than just using reflectors.