So Apparently solar Roads might be a thing

[megamanzer0]

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/solar-roadways/

[Gil_Hamilton]

I thought this was about roads to the stars. Then I clicked the link, and was rewarded with old news but realistic tech instead of LSD-fueled hallucinations.

I'm actually kind of disappointed.

[grinvader]

Wonder what happens when an earthquake comes and buttrapes your electricity-generating roads in the face.

[megamanzer0]

I would imagine that it would only affect the damaged section as they are modular hexagonal panels. As a side note they have raised almost 1.5 million dollars so far.

[Gil_Hamilton]

I would imagine that it would only affect the damaged section as they are modular hexagonal panels. As a side note they have raised almost 1.5 million dollars so far.

They ARE modular, but they still require physical intetconnects of power and data transmission.

[megamanzer0]

well the way I see it they would need sub station every couple miles to regulate the energy levels. this is just me pulling shit from my ass but im thinking that since each point in the circuit is creating its own energy damaged panels wont be an issue they would just need to be replaced.

[Gil_Hamilton]

well the way I see it they would need sub station every couple miles to regulate the energy levels. this is just me pulling shit from my ass but im thinking that since each point in the circuit is creating its own energy damaged panels wont be an issue they would just need to be replaced.

The theory is that they're putting their excess power back into the electrical grid. That's going to require a physical connection to something. Broken tiles will break that physical connection.

And they won't be using wireless communications for their data link, since dear lord that'd saturate fast. So they have wired data links. Broken tiles will also break those data links.

[megamanzer0]

the wire is in the side of the road but I get the point an earthquake will destroy that too. well I hope they figure something out. or I guess just not build them along fault lines.

[grinvader]

Hmm... they don't really cover the issue, but they chose some nice pics at least.

Now for the nightmare scenario: earthquake -> car pileup -> gasoil on fire -> tidal wave -> game over.
Electrically charged puddles and burning fuel splashes elsewhere.
It largely depends how intense the generated current is, so if they tune it right (and the quake doesn't fuck with that) it shouldn't be that bad...

[Gil_Hamilton]

the wire is in the side of the road but I get the point an earthquake will destroy that too. well I hope they figure something out. or I guess just not build them along fault lines.

How does a tile in the middle of the road connect to a cable on the side of the road?

[megamanzer0]

dude you need to learn to electricity. all you need is a contact surface you don't need physical wires running underneath the roadways.

[Gil_Hamilton]

dude you need to learn to electricity. all you need is a contact surface you don't need physical wires running underneath the roadways.

*sigh*

My POINT is that current and data will get from inner tiles to the bus cable along the edge of the roadway by GOING THROUGH OTHER TILES. If the tiles between them are broken, the circuit is broken.The plan doubtless calls for some redundancy and pathfinding, but enough damaged tiles WILL bring the network segment down.

[megamanzer0]

And my point is since each tile is creating energy it doesn't have to break the circuit and it also doesn't have to be a monolith it can be broken up into multiple ennergy producing sections that way if some of the tiles are damaged it will only affect a portion of the grid and not the entire thing.

[Gil_Hamilton]

And a major disaster like we were talking about would take out many segments at once.

[megamanzer0]

wait a minute what exactly is your major concern? in your mind what would be the repercussions of "a major disaster" as you put it.

[Gil_Hamilton]

Wonder what happens when an earthquake comes and buttrapes your electricity-generating roads in the face.

[megamanzer0]

Oh so you are just wondering what happens. I guess you find my explanations lacking then? I mean I don't think I can explain it any clearer. the damaged section stops working but because each panel is creating its own energy the elecrical grid still functions.

[Gil_Hamilton]

Oh so you are just wondering what happens. I guess you find my explanations lacking then? I mean I don't think I can explain it any clearer. the damaged section stops working but because each panel is creating its own energy the elecrical grid still functions.

I think your explanations work great for small-scale damage, like if a propane tank blows up in the street(shit happens).
I think there are bigger concerns for widespread destruction, like a massive loss of electrical supply for the city and a simultaneous loss of street signage.


I think the expression is "can't see the forest for the trees"?

[megamanzer0]

I can understand your concern but I guess I just cant imagine that with the jumble of roads we have that one fault line shifting would be able to destroy them all. I mean at that point you are talking about an apocalypse. and that would tend to affect a regular power grid as well. and in an event like that downed power lines would make it even more dangerous. meh I just don't see this as too much of an issue since earthquakes don't happen everywhere. but there are sink holes and other monopolizes I guess. but still can't see it haveing a substantial impact on energy production.

[Gil_Hamilton]

I can understand your concern but I guess I just cant imagine that with the jumble of roads we have that one fault line shifting would be able to destroy them all. I mean at that point you are talking about an apocalypse.

https://www.google.com/search?q=earthqu ... 0&tbm=isch

And this is with the road being paved with asphalt instead of millions of inflexible electronics modules.

[megamanzer0]

the red line represents a fault line some roads will be destroyed lots more will not even be touched the energy grid will be preserved. from the sound of your last post I guess you were just saying that an earth quake will destroy a solar roadway just as easily as an asphalt one? if that was your only point then I whole heartedly agree.

[Gil_Hamilton]

the red line represents a fault line some roads will be destroyed lots more will not even be touched the energy grid will be preserved. from the sound of your last post I guess you were just saying that an earth quake will destroy a solar roadway just as easily as an asphalt one? if that was your only point then I whole heartedly agree.

A. Damage in an earthquake is not restricted to objects sitting directly atop a fault.

B. My point was that damage to a computerized roadway that generates electricity is more difficult to repair and has larger implications for the city the road services than a road that just has cars on it.

[odditude]

assuming that the companies that manage the grid aren't completely stupid, road-generated solar will always be treated as high risk (car accidents happen regularly and will disrupt service). i have reasonable faith that between a competent civil engineering firm and electrical engineering firm, a solution that results in a net positive can be designed.

however, my faith in that solution being reasonably cost-effective is quite a bit shakier.

[megamanzer0]

lots of critiques by some one smarter than me looks like this is a non starter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H901KdX ... e=youtu.be

they have raised almost 2 million btw

[grinvader]

Good arguments. The cost alone makes it a no-go, regardless any other issue.