Passive Radiative Cooling Panels for Non-Climate-Controlled Interiors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling technologies are not feasible for non-climate-controlled environments, leading to potential damage to stored goods and health risks due to extreme temperatures and humidity, and radiative cooling is challenging for objects at or near ambient temperature.
Innovation Solution
A heat-dissipating system using radiative cooling materials and heat transfer elements, such as panels with interlocking edges and fins, is integrated into or coupled with objects to passively cool interiors by transferring heat to ambient air or using fans to enhance airflow over heat transfer elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If traditional air conditioning is used to cool interior spaces, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption and system complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The radiative cooling system operates autonomously without external energy input. The cooling panels passively radiate heat from the interior space through their specialized surface coating that emits thermal radiation in the atmospheric window (8-13 μm wavelength range), allowing heat to escape directly to the cold sink of outer space, thereby cooling the interior space without consuming electricity or requiring mechanical refrigeration components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical air conditioning system with a passive radiative cooling system. Instead of using compressors, refrigerants, and electrical motors to remove heat, the system uses a specially designed surface coating that enables direct thermal radiation heat transfer to space, substituting mechanical energy conversion with a passive optical-thermal process
2Temperature
If radiative cooling materials are applied to heat-dissipating surfaces, then passive cooling capability is improved, but manufacturing complexity and material cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the optical parameters of the heat-dissipating surface by applying a radiative cooling material coating that specifically enhances emission in the atmospheric window region (8-13 μm). This parameter change allows the surface to selectively radiate heat at wavelengths that penetrate the atmosphere to space, while maintaining simplicity in the underlying heat-dissipating structure fabrication
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a composite structure combining a conventional heat-dissipating substrate (such as metal or plastic panels) with a specialized radiative cooling coating layer. This composite approach leverages the thermal conductivity of the substrate and the selective radiative properties of the coating, achieving effective passive cooling while keeping manufacturing processes relatively simple and material costs manageable
3Temperature
If cooling systems are installed in non-climate-controlled environments, then temperature control is improved, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential cooling function from complex mechanical air conditioning systems and implements it through simple radiative cooling panels that can be directly installed on roofs or walls. The system removes the need for ducts, fans, compressors, and electrical wiring by using passive radiative heat transfer, thereby dramatically reducing device complexity while maintaining temperature control capability in non-climate-controlled environments
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
The system provides efficient cooling of interior spaces with minimal energy consumption, reducing temperature extremes and preventing heat-related issues in non-climate-controlled environments.
Implementation Method 1
radiative cooling materials can passively cool their substrates through various mechanisms, including mid-infrared-spectrum radiation of heat into the void of space
Implementation Method 2
a bottom side of the top face of the heat-dissipating panel includes a heat transfer element having some type of geometry that provides beneficial properties, such as exposed surface area, turbulence generation, and/or the like, to increase the rate of heat transfer from working fluid into the heat-dissipating panel's bulk
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure involve providing radiative cooling through various configurations of a heat-dissipating system on which a radiative cooling material may be applied. Particular embodiments involve the use of heat-dissipating panels interlocked to form a heat-dissipating system. Particular embodiments involve the use of a heat transfer element with a heat-dissipating system. Particular embodiments involve the use of a heat-dissipating system to dissipate heat away from an interior space of an object (e.g., vehicle, facility) via a sheet that is applied to or integrated with a top surface (e.g., roofing) of the object. Particular embodiments involve the use of heat-dissipating panels in forming a heat-dissipating system that include front openings allowing airflow to pass through the panels to assist in dissipating heat away from the object.