Opportunity
In hot and humid climates, conventional air conditioning systems consume significant energy to maintain thermal comfort, accounting for a substantial portion of global electricity use and greenhouse gas emissions. Personalized ventilation systems, while energy-efficient, often cause discomfort due to cold drafts and noise. Traditional radiant cooling systems face a critical trade-off: lowering the radiant surface temperature enhances cooling capacity but increases condensation risk, while raising the temperature reduces condensation but diminishes cooling performance. This patent addresses these limitations by introducing a movable, anti-condensation radiant cooling panel system that enables low-temperature radiant cooling (as low as 5°C) without condensation, even in high-humidity environments. The system also offers personalized comfort by allowing users to adjust the panel’s position and angle, making it highly adaptable for diverse indoor settings.
Technology
The patent describes an innovative multi-layered radiant cooling panel system designed to prevent condensation while maximizing cooling efficiency. The panel consists of:
- A water pipe layer with capillary tubes for efficient heat transfer, coated with thermally conductive material.
- A high-emissivity radiation layer (e.g., graphene-carbon nanotube coating with 0.95–0.98 emissivity) to enhance radiative cooling.
- A low-humidity air layer sealed by an infrared (IR)-transparent membrane (e.g., low-density polyethylene), which minimizes heat transfer via convection/conduction while allowing IR radiation to pass through. Dry agents maintain humidity below 35% to prevent condensation.
- An insulation layer to reduce thermal loss.
The system is mounted on adjustable stands with wheels, enabling users to modify the panel’s distance (60–90 cm) and tilt angle (60°–90°) for personalized comfort. The IR-transparent membrane ensures high radiative heat exchange between the cold panel (5°C–20°C) and the user while keeping the membrane surface above the dew point temperature to avoid condensation.
Advantages
- Energy Efficiency: Reduces building energy consumption by up to 17% compared to conventional HVAC systems by enabling higher background temperatures (e.g., 28°C–30°C).
- Anti-Condensation Design: Low-humidity air layer and IR-transparent membrane allow radiative cooling at temperatures as low as 5°C without condensation risk.
- Personalized Comfort: Adjustable angle/distance accommodates individual preferences and body heat distribution (e.g., focusing cooling on the upper body).
- Scalability: Modular panels can be deployed in offices or homes without retrofitting existing infrastructure.
Applications
- Office Buildings: Personalized microclimate control in open-plan offices with high occupancy variability.
- Hot/Humid Climates: Energy-efficient cooling in regions where conventional systems struggle with humidity-induced condensation.
- Retrofitting: Upgrading existing radiant cooling systems to enhance capacity and prevent condensation.
