Structure
★Aqueduct Grate
Attention given to the smallest details is the key to turning something ordinary into something extraordinary. How does the permeable JW Eco-Technology Pavement reduce air pollution? The design of the Aqueduct Grate plays a vital role in the JW Pavement.
The Aqueduct Grate is a grid unit that has vertical pipes for draining water into the gravel and soil, allowing the air to circulate underneath the surface. Two aspects were taken into consideration when designing the Aqueduct Grate:
Size of pipe openings. If the Aqueduct Grate has a pipe opening that is too big, the heel of high heels may get stuck in the opening, creating potential danger to pedestrians on the road. In search of a solution to this problem, Jui-Wen Chen shopped around the city, buying all kinds of high heel shoes to test his design. At last, he designed pipe openings that are small enough and safe for most high heel shoes.
Preventing buildup. Another concern while making the Aqueduct Grate was the buildup of dirt near the top of the vertical pipes. To prevent buildup, Jui-Wen Chen designed the pipes with a cone-shaped like structure that is wide down below and narrow at the top. This design makes the cleaning process much easier. When cleaning out the dirt blocking the pipes, a pressurized water jet can easily and quickly wash the dirt down to the gravel layer.
Air-circulation. To maximize the level of air-circulation in the Aqueduct Grate, Jui-Wen Chen thought of a simple yet effective design that will allow air to flow freely beneath the surface of the pavement. He designed two kinds of pipes, narrow pipes and wide pipes. The narrow pipes will allow water drainage and dirty water to enter into the surface below. Water will infiltrate into the gravel and soil. The dirt will help create a suitable environment for microorganisms, which will help clean the air; the microorganisms will continue to thrive in this environment. Then, using the Bernoulli Principle, the clean air and moisture will be released into the atmosphere above through the wide pipes.
The design of Aqueduct Grate is revolutionary because it serves many purposes at the same time, and it plays a significant role in reducing air pollution.
By Kevin Chang