Vehicle Transparency With Layered Infrared Reflective Coating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle transparencies, such as windows and windshields, allow both light and heat to enter vehicles, leading to increased energy consumption and fuel waste on warm days, and existing solutions like colored glass or solar control coatings either reduce visibility or are costly and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A transparency system comprising multiple glass plies with a solar control coating that includes a specific layered structure of infrared reflective metallic layers and dielectric layers, allowing high visible light transmission while reflecting infrared radiation, thereby reducing heat absorption and maintaining visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If colored or tinted glass is used to reduce heat transfer, then heat transfer is reduced, but visibility through the transparency is cut down
Solution Approach 1:
The solar control coating is divided into multiple separate infrared reflective metallic layers with different thicknesses, allowing selective control over infrared reflection while maintaining visible light transmission. This segmentation enables the coating to target specific wavelength ranges (infrared) without compromising overall visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the solar control coating have different properties - the first infrared reflective metallic layer provides strong infrared reflection, while the second and third layers provide progressively weaker reflection. This local variation in coating properties allows optimization for infrared control while preserving visible light transmission.
2Temperature
If conventional solar control coatings are applied to reduce heat transfer, then heat transfer is reduced, but visibility is limited and application cost is high
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the parameters of the solar control coating by using multiple metallic layers with specific thickness ratios. The first layer has a greater thickness than the second layer, which has a greater thickness than the third layer. This parameter optimization allows the coating to achieve effective infrared reflection with minimal impact on visible light transmission, improving visibility compared to conventional single-layer coatings.
3Illumination intensity
If clear glass is used to maintain visibility, then visibility is maintained, but heat transfer increases
Solution Approach 1:
The solar control coating is constructed as a composite structure combining multiple infrared reflective metallic layers with dielectric spacer layers. This composite material approach enables the coating to simultaneously provide infrared reflection (reducing heat transfer) and maintain high visible light transmission, effectively resolving the trade-off between visibility and heat blocking.
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 effectively reduces heat absorption within the vehicle while maintaining high visible light transmission, keeping the vehicle cooler without compromising visibility, thus enhancing energy efficiency and reducing fuel consumption.
Implementation Method 1
The solar control coating has a first infrared reflective metallic layer, a second infrared reflective metallic layer and a third infrared reflective metallic layer
Implementation Method 2
A transparency comprises a first ply having a first visible light transmission and a second ply having a second visible light transmission
Data Source
AI summary
A transparency includes a first ply having a first visible light transmission and a second ply having a second visible light transmission, with the first visible light transmission being greater than the second visible light transmission. A solar control coating is located between the first ply and the second ply. The solar control coating has a first infrared reflective metallic layer, a second infrared reflective metallic layer and a third infrared reflective metallic layer. The first infrared reflective metallic layer is thicker than the second infrared reflective metallic layer and the second infrared reflective metallic layer is thicker than the third infrared reflective metallic layer.