Embedded Files
This is the Scientific Description for Kinetic Roads Electrically Sourced Highways. Unless you know the science behind the E = MC2 equation or have a dictionary on hand, I suggest you take a look at the Fancy Data page.
OVERVIEW
Piezoelectricity is a phenomenon in which electric charge accumulates in certain solids when they are subjected to mechanical stress. This phenomenon has been known since the 19th century and has been used for various applications, such as generating electricity from sound waves or pressure changes. Piezoelectric materials have also found use in medical imaging, sensing, and actuation. The piezoelectric effect can be used to convert energy from one form to another, making it an important tool for modern technology.
HOW IT WORKS
Piezoelectricity takes place on a molecular scale. It is caused by the material having an asymetrical molecular structure. The molecules are called dipoles, meaning they have a positive and negative end separated by a distance. The dipoles form domains that are mainly dipolar. In the material, the domains are randomly oriented in the material, causing it to remain non-polar. When pressure or heat is applied, most of the domains face one direction, causing the crystal to generate an electric charge on the surface for a relatively short period, around 500 miliseconds. When the material is subjected to a strong electromagnetic field, the domains face the direction of the field, causing it to deform. This is useful in speakers and sonar.
HISTORY
Before discussing the history of piezoelectricity, let's discuss its predecessor, pyroelectricity, a little bit. Pyroelectricity is essentially one aspect of piezoelectricity: the ability to convert thermal energy to electrical energy. Pyroelectricity was studied by Carl Linnaeus and Franz Aepinus in the mid-18th century. Based on their research, René Just Haüy and Antoine César Becquerel proposed theories on the entanglement of mechanical energy and electrical energy. Their theories did, indirectly, lead to the discovery of piezoelectricity, but experiments by both proved inconclusive. As a matter of fact, piezoelectricity was not discovered for almost thirty years afterwards. It was discovered in 1880 by Pierre Curie and Jacques Curie. They used their knowledge of pyroelectricity and the structures of pyroelectric materials to predict the direct piezoelectric effect in tourmaline, quartz, topaz, cane sugar,and Rochelle salt (sodium potassium tartrate tetrahydrate). The Curies did not predict the converse piezoelectric effect, however, but it was mathematically deduced from fundamental thermodynamic principles by Gabriel Lippmann in 1881. Almost 40 years later, during World War I(1915-1918), piezoelectricity was used in speakers, specifically in sonar, as well as microphones for telephones.
COST AND PRODUCTION
Based on the cost of one watt(W) of energy in South Carolina, which is approximately $0.000000036 based on the cost of one kilowatt hour. Each K.R.E.S.H. module contains 94.90304 cm^3 of quartz, one of the most inexpensive and most efficient piezoelectric materials. The module also contains approximately 7 cm^3 of 99% silicone gel to cushion it and hold it together. That equals out to a cost of $18.7746528 based on early 2023 values. The road is divided into stretches 300 meters(984.252 feet) in length. Each stretch contains a 100 farad 200 volt supercapacitor and about 1847 modules. The cost of the supercapacitor is about $500.00, but minus that the modules should repay themselves in 24 days. Each tile generates around 0.125 W per tap, so it would take around 18 minutes for the cost to be balanced. Take note, this is at optimal efficiency.
Fortunately, since piezoelectricity is at a molecular scale, the road will only move nanometers. This means it will be a comfortable ride.
Google Sites
Report abuse