Interstate Speed Tunnels

Transcription

1 Interstate Speed Tunnels

2 Interstate Speed Tunnels ABSTRACT In highway travel, air resistance is the primary factor that reduces gas mileage. In order to vastly reduce highway gas mileage in cars, the interstate highway system could be closed into tunnels with fans moving the air through the tunnel in the direction of traffic. As the air speed approaches the speed of the cars, gas mileage will approach a minimal value, thus greatly reducing emissions and consumption of fossil fuels. In order to power the fans and the lighting inside of the tunnel, solar panels will cover the tops of the tunnels. The excess power will be redirected towards major cities and used to further reduce dependency on fossil fuels, most notably coal and natural gas.

3 Interstate Speed Tunnels PRESENT TECHNOLOGY As of 2007, there are approximately 136 million automobiles in the United States. These cars use almost 140 billion gallons of gasoline annually. While the total average gas mileage for cars in America is about 20 miles per gallon, or MPGs, the average highway mileage is around 25 MPGs. The vast majority of the energy put into driving a car on the highway is spent on resisting friction due to air. Solar panels are large arrays of semiconducting material which convert sunlight into electrical energy. They are typically used in sets, with a large number of panels connected in series or parallel. These panels are somewhat expensive, though prices are falling rapidly with advances in production methods. In addition, solar panels currently absorb at most 15% of the energy of the sunlight that hits them. HISTORY Although some models of motorized vehicles were created in the 18 th and 19 th centuries, the automobile did not rise into common use until the 1920s with the mass production of cars for consumer usage. Since then, many technological and structural improvements have been made, but the basic mechanics of self propelled vehicles has seen little change since the early 20 th century. The National System of Interstate and Defense Highways (commonly called the Interstate ) was initiated by Dwight D. Eisenhower in The project as originally planned was completed in 1992 with the opening of I 70. The Interstate highway system cost approximately $114 billion dollars and took 35 years to construct.

4 FUTURE TECHNOLOGY In twenty years, Interstate Speed Tunnels will cover half of all current interstate highways in the United States. An Interstate Speed Tunnel is a concrete covering for a highway with fans propelling the air within the tunnel at the same velocity as the traffic. (In all following diagrams, blue arrows indicate movement of air.) The fans will move air both into and out of the tunnel to prevent a buildup of harmful fumes.

5 Also, periodic arrays of LEDs (light emitting diodes) will illuminate the tunnels at all hours of the day. In order to power the lighting and the fans, a large amount of electricity will be needed. Solar panels will cover the top of the tunnel to provide electricity, some of which will be used immediately and some of which will be stored in large rechargeable batteries for nighttime use.

6 The tunnel will open up shortly at large junctions, but only have an opening in the wall at smaller exits. Solar panel efficiency will likely be as high as 30% in twenty years. In addition, if construction starts at the beginning of 2011, at least fifty percent of the Interstate highway system can be converted to Speed Tunnels by the end of Therefore in addition to vastly reducing the emissions coming from US vehicles, the energy from the solar panels on only a 1000 km stretch of tunnel will produce 21.6 billion watts every day*. That s enough energy to power the entire state of Wyoming. With this high level of energy production, dependence on foreign oil will be vastly reduced, and coal burning power plants will become obsolete, further reducing the negative environmental impact of the US. *Assuming panels can produce 180 Watts per hr*m 2 for 15 m * 1,000,000 m and 8 hrs of good sunlight daily.

7 BREAKTHROUGHS In order for Interstate Speed Tunnels to become a practical addition to the transportation infrastructure, three main technological breakthroughs must occur: Increased efficiency of solar panels, Mass production of concrete tunnels, and Manufacture of large, inexpensive arrays of LED lights In addition, a significant financial investment will be necessary for such a large scale project to be implemented, and so a source of fiscal support for the Interstate Speed Tunnels must be located. The most obvious and practical candidate would be the US Federal Government. DESIGN PROCESS During the development of the Interstate Speed Tunnel, the team considered many possible features for its implementation which were left out for simplicity and affordability s sake. 1) Air filters Large filtering mechanisms could be attached to the output fans in order to further counteract air pollution from car exhaust. This feature would have greatly increased the costs of production and maintenance of the tunnel. 2) Directionally adapted solar panels In order to increase the efficiency of the solar panels, they could be put on tilting devices to make their angle perpendicular to the sun at all times of the day. This also would greatly increase the complexity and therefore cost of tunnel production without significantly increasing the possible energy output.

8 3) Inside only fans In the tunnel s original design, the fans lined the top of the tunnel and only moved the air within the tunnel without bringing clean air inside. This design would have caused a constant build up of carbon monoxide within the tunnels, a very large health risk for travelers. CONSEQUENCES Positive consequences of the construction of Interstate Speed Tunnels: Lowered fuel emissions and therefore lower environmental pollution. Much higher highway gas mileage. Less money spent on gasoline for travel, bringing distant family members together. Long distance freight costs decrease, causing lowered prices for food and goods. Excess energy from solar panels would both bring power to rural areas and supply more power to urban areas. Coal and gas burning power plants would become largely obsolete, further reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and shrinking America s carbon footprint. Thousands of jobs would be created (design, manufacture of parts, construction, etc.) Negative consequences of the construction of Interstate Speed Tunnels: Spending on the tunnels could increase the national debt. The constant wind in the tunnels would make stopping in an emergency difficult. Ability to increase a highway s width would disappear after the tunnel walls are built.

9 BIBLIOGRAPHY "Eisenhower Interstate Highway System Home Page." Federal Highway Administration: Home Web. 11 Nov < "FHWA FAPG, 23 CFR 470A, Federal Aid Highway Systems." Federal Highway Administration: Home. 19 Dec Web. 11 Nov < The Henry Ford. "Showroom of Automotive History: The Model T." The Henry Ford: America's Greatest History Attraction Home Page. The Henry Ford, Web. 11 Nov < Think Quest. "The Invention of the Car." ORACLE ThinkQuest. Oracle Education Foundation. Web. 11 Nov < car.html>. US Census Bureau. "State Motor Vehicle Registrations." United States Census. US Census Bureau, Web. 11 Nov < "Gasoline FAQs Energy Information Administration." U.S. Energy Information Administration EIA Independent Statistics and Analysis Web. 11 Nov < All graphics were created with Google SketchUp and the GIMP v2.6.9.

10 In highway travel, air resistance is the primary factor that reduces gas mileage. In order to vastly reduce highway gas mileage in cars, the interstate highway system could be closed into tunnels with fans moving the air through the tunnel in the direction of traffic. As the air speed approaches the speed of the cars, gas mileage will approach a minimal value, thus greatly reducing emissions and consumption of fossil fuels. In order to power the fans and the lighting inside of the tunnel, solar panels will cover the tops of the tunnels. The excess power will be redirected towards major cities and used to further reduce dependency on fossil fuels, most notably coal and natural gas.

11 1672 First automobile created French physicist Antoine César Becquerel invents the solar panel. 1920s Cars rise into common usage and are mass produced. 1930s 2010s Countless structural improvements make cars safer, faster, and more efficient Interstate Highway System initiated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower Interstate completed (35 years and $114 billion later) when highway I 70 officially opens.

12 Automobiles 136 million cars in the US 140 billion gallons of gas used annually Average total gas mileage: 20 MPGs Average highway mileage: 25 MPGs. Most energy is spent on resisting friction due to air when on the highway. Solar Panels Large arrays of semiconducting material which convert sunlight into electricity Typically used in sets, with a large number of panels connected in series or parallel Expensive, but becoming more affordable. Solar panels currently absorb at most 15% of the solar energy that hits them.

13 "Eisenhower Interstate Highway System Home Page." Federal Highway Administration: Home Web. 11 Nov < "FHWA FAPG, 23 CFR 470A, Federal Aid Highway Systems." Federal Highway Administration: Home. 19 Dec Web. 11 Nov < a.htm#470111>. The Henry Ford. "Showroom of Automotive History: The Model T." The Henry Ford: America's Greatest History Attraction Home Page. The Henry Ford, Web. 11 Nov < html>. Think Quest. "The Invention of the Car." ORACLE ThinkQuest. Oracle Education Foundation. Web. 11 Nov < car.html>. US Census Bureau. "State Motor Vehicle Registrations." United States Census. US Census Bureau, Web. 11 Nov < s1060.pdf>. "Gasoline FAQs Energy Information Administration." U.S. Energy Information Administration EIA Independent Statistics and Analysis Web. 11 Nov < All graphics were created with Google SketchUp and the GIMP

14 In highway travel, air resistance is the primary factor that reduces gas mileage. In order to vastly reduce highway gas mileage in cars, the interstate highway system could Interstate Tunnelwith is a concrete highway cover. be An closed intospeed tunnels fans moving the Fans will propel the air within the tunnel at the same air through the tunnel in the direction of velocity as the traffic. These fans will also move air into and traffic. As the air speed approaches the out of the tunnel to prevent buildup of harmful fumes. speed of the cars, gas mileage will approach Electricity will be generated by solar panels covering the top aof the minimal value, thus reducing tunnel. Click HERE for moregreatly information. emissions and consumption of fossil fuels. In order to power the fans and the lighting inside of the tunnel, solar panels will cover the tops of the tunnels. The excess power will be redirected towards major cities and used to further reduce dependency on fossil fuels, most notably coal and natural gas.