Active Radiation Window for Near-Infrared Thermal Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicles face high battery consumption due to the influx of near-infrared light through windows, which increases internal temperature and reduces driving range, as existing smart window technologies are not suitable for controlling near-infrared radiation effectively.
Innovation Solution
An active radiation control window comprising a control layer, a filter layer, and a resonance layer, where the control layer adjusts near-infrared light transmissivity and absorptivity with voltage, the filter layer transmits visible light and reflects near-infrared light, and the resonance layer amplifies reflectivity and absorptivity differences, maintaining visible light transmissivity while controlling near-infrared radiation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If existing smart window technologies (SPD, PDLC, EC) are used to control light transmissivity, then the transmissivity of visible light can be adjusted, but the control of near-infrared light is ineffective and total energy control is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The window is divided into distinct functional layers: a control layer for voltage-dependent near-infrared transmissivity adjustment, a filter layer for wavelength-selective filtering, and a resonance layer for enhancing optical effects. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each layer's function to achieve comprehensive near-infrared control while maintaining visible light transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The window employs a composite structure combining multiple materials with different optical properties: graphene or ITO in the control layer for electro-optic modulation, dielectric and metal layers in the filter layer for selective reflection, and dielectric resonance layers for amplifying optical effects. This composite approach enables simultaneous control of visible and near-infrared light with enhanced performance.
2Temperature
If more power is used for air conditioning and heating systems, then the internal temperature can be maintained, but battery consumption increases and driving range decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The window converts harmful near-infrared radiation into beneficial thermal energy control by selectively reflecting near-infrared light in summer mode, preventing heat influx and reducing cooling requirements. In winter mode, the same system allows near-infrared transmission to provide passive heating, thereby converting a previously harmful thermal effect into a useful heating source and reducing heating energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The window provides self-regulating thermal control by automatically adjusting its optical properties in response to environmental conditions and control signals, managing heat transfer without requiring active heating or cooling systems to work harder, thereby reducing overall energy consumption for temperature maintenance.
3Illumination intensity
If the transmissivity and absorptivity of light are controlled in smart windows, then the amount of light transmitted can be adjusted, but the total amount of energy incident into the system remains similar
Solution Approach 1:
The window applies different optical properties to different wavelength regions: the control layer and filter layer are specifically designed to have high reflectivity for near-infrared light while maintaining high transmissivity for visible light. This local quality differentiation allows selective energy control by wavelength, reflecting harmful near-infrared energy while allowing beneficial visible light to pass through, thereby achieving total energy control rather than uniform control across all wavelengths.
Solution Approach 2:
The window dynamically changes its optical parameters by adjusting the voltage applied to the control layer, which modifies the transmissivity and reflectivity characteristics for near-infrared light. This parameter change enables the system to switch between different operational modes (summer/winter) and actively control the total energy incident into the vehicle, rather than maintaining a fixed energy transmission profile.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces near-infrared light absorption in summer, reflecting it externally and increasing absorption as heat in winter, thereby decreasing battery consumption and extending vehicle mileage.
Implementation Method 1
the control layer is configured to control transmissivity or absorptivity of an near-infrared light according to an applied voltage
Implementation Method 2
The filter layer is disposed under the control layer, and is configured to transmit a visible light and to reflect the near-infrared light
Implementation Method 3
The resonance layer is disposed between the control layer and the filter layer, and has a dielectric material
Data Source
AI summary
An active radiation control window includes a control layer, a filter layer and a resonance layer. The control layer is configured to control transmissivity or absorptivity of an near-infrared light according to an applied voltage. The filter layer is disposed under the control layer, and is configured to transmit a visible light and to reflect the near-infrared light. The resonance layer is disposed between the control layer and the filter layer, and has a dielectric material. Total transmissivity of the visible light is maintained and total reflectivity of the near-infrared light is controlled when the applied voltage is changed.