Saturday, April 20, 2024

New window film drops temperature, slashes energy consumption

Good news! Human ingenuity at its best!

"Assisted by quantum physics and machine learning, researchers have developed a transparent window coating that lets in visible light but blocks heat-producing UV and infrared. The coating not only reduces room temperature but also the energy consumption related to cooling, regardless of where the sun is in the sky. ..."

"... “Our coating maintains functionality and efficiency whatever the sun’s position in the sky.” ..."

From the highlights and abstract:
"Highlights
• A wide-angle spectral filter is designed by quantum annealing-enhanced active learning
Band-selective transmission is achieved from the optimized spectral filter
• Experiments verify the optical characteristics and cooling performance
• The filter for windows can reduce annual cooling energy by ∼97.5 MJ/m2 in hot climates
Summary
Multi-band spectral filters that can transmit visible light but block UV and infrared light in the solar spectrum are applicable to energy-saving windows. However, such filters are usually designed to consider normal incident light only. Here, we report photonic structures allowing selective solar spectrum transmission in wide angles using a quantum-computing-enhanced active learning scheme, which includes machine learning, quantum annealing, and wave-optics simulation in an iterative loop. We experimentally demonstrate the optical characteristics of the photonic structure and its capability to reduce the temperature rise in an enclosure when combined with a thermal radiation layer (temperature reduction of 5.4°C–7.2°C and annual energy saving of ∼97.5 MJ/m2). This structure can be incorporated into existing windows in buildings or automobiles to reduce cooling energy consumption, and the active learning scheme can be applied to design materials with complex properties in general."

New window film drops temperature, slashes energy consumption


Graphical abstract


No comments: