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Mirroring Solar Radiation Emitting Heat Toward the Universe: Design, Production, and Preliminary Testing of a Metamaterial Based Daytime Passive Radiative Cooler

Author

Listed:
  • Anna Castaldo

    (ENEA-TERIN-STSN-SCIS Portici, 80055 Naples, Italy)

  • Giuseppe Vitiello

    (ENEA-TERIN-STSN-SCIS Portici, 80055 Naples, Italy)

  • Emilia Gambale

    (ENEA-TERIN-STSN-SCIS Portici, 80055 Naples, Italy)

  • Michela Lanchi

    (ENEA-TERIN-STSN-SCIS Casaccia, 00123 Rome, Italy)

  • Manuela Ferrara

    (ENEA-TERIN-FSN-DIN Portici, 80055 Naples, Italy)

  • Michele Zinzi

    (ENEA-TERIN-SEN Casaccia, 00123 Rome, Italy)

Abstract

A radiative cooling device, based on a metamaterial able to mirror solar radiation and emit heat toward the universe by the transparency window of the atmosphere (8–13 µm), reaching and maintaining temperatures below ambient air, without any electricity input (passive), could have a significant impact on energy consumption of buildings and positive effects on the global warming prevention. A similar device is expected to properly work if exposed to the nocturnal sky, but during the daytime, its efficacy could be affected by its own heating under direct sunlight. In scientific literature, there are only few evidences of lab scale devices, acting as passive radiative cooling at daytime, and remaining few degrees below ambient air. This work describes the proof of concept of a daytime passive radiative cooler, entirely developed in ENEA labs, capable to reach well 12 °C under ambient temperature. In particular, the prototypal device is an acrylic box case, filled with noble gas, whose top face is a metamaterial deposited on a metal substrate covered with a transparent polymeric film. The metamaterial here tested, obtained by means of a semi-empirical approach, is a spectrally selective coating based on low cost materials, deposited as thin films by sputtering on the metallic substrate, that emits selectively in the 8–13 µm region, reflecting elsewhere UV_VIS_NIR_IR electromagnetic radiation. The prototype during the daytime sky could reach temperatures well beyond ambient temperature. However, the proof of concept experiment performed in a bright clear June day has evidenced some limitations. A critical analysis of the obtained experimental results has done, in order to individuate design revisions for the device and to identify future metamaterial improvements.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna Castaldo & Giuseppe Vitiello & Emilia Gambale & Michela Lanchi & Manuela Ferrara & Michele Zinzi, 2020. "Mirroring Solar Radiation Emitting Heat Toward the Universe: Design, Production, and Preliminary Testing of a Metamaterial Based Daytime Passive Radiative Cooler," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-16, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:16:p:4192-:d:398735
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Vazrik Chiloyan & Jivtesh Garg & Keivan Esfarjani & Gang Chen, 2015. "Transition from near-field thermal radiation to phonon heat conduction at sub-nanometre gaps," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-7, November.
    2. Chia-Hsin Liu & Chyung Ay & Chun-Yu Tsai & Maw-Tien Lee, 2019. "The Application of Passive Radiative Cooling in Greenhouses," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-9, November.
    3. Lu, Xing & Xu, Peng & Wang, Huilong & Yang, Tao & Hou, Jin, 2016. "Cooling potential and applications prospects of passive radiative cooling in buildings: The current state-of-the-art," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 1079-1097.
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    Cited by:

    1. Anna Castaldo & Emilia Gambale & Giuseppe Vitiello, 2021. "Aluminium Nitride Doping for Solar Mirrors Self-Cleaning Coatings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-13, October.
    2. Liu, Jie & Xu, Chengfeng & Ao, Xianze & Lu, Kegui & Zhao, Bin & Pei, Gang, 2022. "A dual-layer polymer-based film for all-day sub-ambient radiative sky cooling," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(PA).
    3. Pirvaram, Atousa & Talebzadeh, Nima & Leung, Siu Ning & O'Brien, Paul G., 2022. "Radiative cooling for buildings: A review of techno-enviro-economics and life-cycle assessment methods," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).

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