IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v168y2016icp332-339.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Bio-inspired effective and regenerable building cooling using tough hydrogels

Author

Listed:
  • Cui, Shuang
  • Ahn, Chihyung
  • Wingert, Matthew C.
  • Leung, David
  • Cai, Shengqiang
  • Chen, Renkun

Abstract

Innovative thermal regulation technologies could provide great potential for reducing energy consumption in buildings. In this work, we report, for the first time, the application of highly stretchable and tough double network hydrogels (DN-Gels) as durable and reusable ‘sweating skins’ for cooling buildings. These DN-Gels demonstrate outstanding cooling performance, reducing the top roof surface temperature of wooden house models by 25–30°C for up to 7h after only a single water hydration charge. More importantly, compared with single network hydrogels (SN-Gels) previously studied for cooling applications, these DN-Gels exhibit extraordinary toughness and cyclability due to their interpenetrated ionically and covalently cross-linked networks, as demonstrated by constant cooling performance over more than 50 cycles. This excellent cyclability is further demonstrated by the unaltered mechanical properties and charging capability of the hydrogels after many cycles, compared to fresh ones. By coating a 100m2 roof of a single house with tough DN-Gels, it is estimated that the annual electricity consumption needed for air conditioning can be reduced by ∼290kWh with associated CO2 emission reductions of 160kg. Our results suggest that bio-inspired sweat cooling, specifically using tough DN-Gel coatings, represents a promising energy-efficient technology for cooling buildings as well as other devices and systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Cui, Shuang & Ahn, Chihyung & Wingert, Matthew C. & Leung, David & Cai, Shengqiang & Chen, Renkun, 2016. "Bio-inspired effective and regenerable building cooling using tough hydrogels," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 332-339.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:168:y:2016:i:c:p:332-339
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.01.058
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261916300381
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.01.058?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zhou, D. & Zhao, C.Y. & Tian, Y., 2012. "Review on thermal energy storage with phase change materials (PCMs) in building applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 593-605.
    2. Zhou, Guobing & Yang, Yongping & Wang, Xin & Zhou, Shaoxiang, 2009. "Numerical analysis of effect of shape-stabilized phase change material plates in a building combined with night ventilation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(1), pages 52-59, January.
    3. Aktacir, Mehmet Azmi & Büyükalaca, Orhan & YIlmaz, Tuncay, 2010. "A case study for influence of building thermal insulation on cooling load and air-conditioning system in the hot and humid regions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(2), pages 599-607, February.
    4. Artmann, N. & Manz, H. & Heiselberg, P., 2007. "Climatic potential for passive cooling of buildings by night-time ventilation in Europe," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 84(2), pages 187-201, February.
    5. Jeong-Yun Sun & Xuanhe Zhao & Widusha R. K. Illeperuma & Ovijit Chaudhuri & Kyu Hwan Oh & David J. Mooney & Joost J. Vlassak & Zhigang Suo, 2012. "Highly stretchable and tough hydrogels," Nature, Nature, vol. 489(7414), pages 133-136, September.
    6. Kuznik, Frédéric & Virgone, Joseph, 2009. "Experimental assessment of a phase change material for wall building use," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(10), pages 2038-2046, October.
    7. Eicker, Ursula, 2010. "Cooling strategies, summer comfort and energy performance of a rehabilitated passive standard office building," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(6), pages 2031-2039, June.
    8. Lie-Wen Xia & Rui Xie & Xiao-Jie Ju & Wei Wang & Qianming Chen & Liang-Yin Chu, 2013. "Nano-structured smart hydrogels with rapid response and high elasticity," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 4(1), pages 1-11, October.
    9. Wang, Jiangjiang & Zhai, Zhiqiang (John) & Jing, Youyin & Zhang, Chunfa, 2010. "Particle swarm optimization for redundant building cooling heating and power system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(12), pages 3668-3679, December.
    10. Chowdhury, Ashfaque Ahmed & Rasul, M.G. & Khan, M.M.K., 2008. "Thermal-comfort analysis and simulation for various low-energy cooling-technologies applied to an office building in a subtropical climate," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 85(6), pages 449-462, June.
    11. Joudi, Ali & Svedung, Harald & Cehlin, Mathias & Rönnelid, Mats, 2013. "Reflective coatings for interior and exterior of buildings and improving thermal performance," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 562-570.
    12. Zhang, Sijie & Zhao, Rui & Liu, Jie & Gu, Junjie, 2014. "Investigation on a hydrogel based passive thermal management system for lithium ion batteries," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 854-861.
    13. Sadineni, Suresh B. & Madala, Srikanth & Boehm, Robert F., 2011. "Passive building energy savings: A review of building envelope components," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(8), pages 3617-3631.
    14. Wen Yang & Vincent R. Sherman & Bernd Gludovatz & Eric Schaible & Polite Stewart & Robert O. Ritchie & Marc A. Meyers, 2015. "On the tear resistance of skin," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-10, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Fang, Hong & Zhao, Dongliang & Yuan, Jinchao & Aili, Ablimit & Yin, Xiaobo & Yang, Ronggui & Tan, Gang, 2019. "Performance evaluation of a metamaterial-based new cool roof using improved Roof Thermal Transfer Value model," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 248(C), pages 589-599.
    2. Wu, Nan & Ye, Xiaolin & Li, Junjie & Lin, Boshen & Zhou, Xuelong & Yu, Bin, 2021. "Passive thermal management systems employing hydrogel for the large-format lithium-ion cell: A systematic study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
    3. Al-Obaidi, Karam M. & Azzam Ismail, Muhammad & Hussein, Hazreena & Abdul Rahman, Abdul Malik, 2017. "Biomimetic building skins: An adaptive approach," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 1472-1491.
    4. Yue, Xuejie & Wu, Hai & Zhang, Tao & Yang, Dongya & Qiu, Fengxian, 2022. "Superhydrophobic waste paper-based aerogel as a thermal insulating cooler for building," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 245(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Parameshwaran, R. & Kalaiselvam, S. & Harikrishnan, S. & Elayaperumal, A., 2012. "Sustainable thermal energy storage technologies for buildings: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(5), pages 2394-2433.
    2. Lei, Jiawei & Kumarasamy, Karthikeyan & Zingre, Kishor T. & Yang, Jinglei & Wan, Man Pun & Yang, En-Hua, 2017. "Cool colored coating and phase change materials as complementary cooling strategies for building cooling load reduction in tropics," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 57-63.
    3. Long, Linshuang & Ye, Hong & Gao, Yanfeng & Zou, Ruqiang, 2014. "Performance demonstration and evaluation of the synergetic application of vanadium dioxide glazing and phase change material in passive buildings," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 89-97.
    4. Liu, Jiang & Liu, Yan & Yang, Liu & Liu, Tang & Zhang, Chen & Dong, Hong, 2020. "Climatic and seasonal suitability of phase change materials coupled with night ventilation for office buildings in Western China," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(P1), pages 356-373.
    5. Lei, Jiawei & Yang, Jinglei & Yang, En-Hua, 2016. "Energy performance of building envelopes integrated with phase change materials for cooling load reduction in tropical Singapore," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 207-217.
    6. Mavrigiannaki, A. & Ampatzi, E., 2016. "Latent heat storage in building elements: A systematic review on properties and contextual performance factors," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 852-866.
    7. Ye, Hong & Long, Linshuang & Zhang, Haitao & Zou, Ruqiang, 2014. "The performance evaluation of shape-stabilized phase change materials in building applications using energy saving index," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 1118-1126.
    8. Barzin, Reza & Chen, John J.J. & Young, Brent R. & Farid, Mohammed M., 2015. "Application of PCM energy storage in combination with night ventilation for space cooling," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 412-421.
    9. Barzin, Reza & Chen, John J.J. & Young, Brent R. & Farid, Mohammed M., 2015. "Application of PCM underfloor heating in combination with PCM wallboards for space heating using price based control system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 39-48.
    10. Jin, Xing & Medina, Mario A. & Zhang, Xiaosong, 2014. "On the placement of a phase change material thermal shield within the cavity of buildings walls for heat transfer rate reduction," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 780-786.
    11. Kenisarin, Murat & Mahkamov, Khamid, 2016. "Passive thermal control in residential buildings using phase change materials," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 371-398.
    12. Sun, Xiaoqin & Zhang, Quan & Medina, Mario A. & Liao, Shuguang, 2015. "Performance of a free-air cooling system for telecommunications base stations using phase change materials (PCMs): In-situ tests," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 325-334.
    13. Toparlar, Y. & Blocken, B. & Maiheu, B. & van Heijst, G.J.F., 2018. "Impact of urban microclimate on summertime building cooling demand: A parametric analysis for Antwerp, Belgium," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C), pages 852-872.
    14. Abednego Oscar Tanuwijava & Ching Jenq Ho & Chi-Ming Lai & Chao-Yang Huang, 2013. "Numerical Investigation of the Thermal Management Performance of MEPCM Modules for PV Applications," Energies, MDPI, vol. 6(8), pages 1-15, August.
    15. Joulin, Annabelle & Younsi, Zohir & Zalewski, Laurent & Lassue, Stéphane & Rousse, Daniel R. & Cavrot, Jean-Paul, 2011. "Experimental and numerical investigation of a phase change material: Thermal-energy storage and release," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(7), pages 2454-2462, July.
    16. Noor Muhammad Abd Rahman & Lim Chin Haw & Ahmad Fazlizan, 2021. "A Literature Review of Naturally Ventilated Public Hospital Wards in Tropical Climate Countries for Thermal Comfort and Energy Saving Improvements," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-22, January.
    17. Zhou, D. & Shire, G.S.F. & Tian, Y., 2014. "Parametric analysis of influencing factors in Phase Change Material Wallboard (PCMW)," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 33-42.
    18. Kong, Xiangfei & Jie, Pengfei & Yao, Chengqiang & Liu, Yun, 2017. "Experimental study on thermal performance of phase change material passive and active combined using for building application in winter," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 293-302.
    19. Jin, Xing & Medina, Mario A. & Zhang, Xiaosong, 2013. "On the importance of the location of PCMs in building walls for enhanced thermal performance," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 72-78.
    20. Memon, Shazim Ali, 2014. "Phase change materials integrated in building walls: A state of the art review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 870-906.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:168:y:2016:i:c:p:332-339. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.