Potential thermal energy storage technologies for radiative cooling implementation in buildings
Abstract
Radiative cooling (RC), a passive cooling strategy of bodies to release heat to the sky, has shown promise in alleviating cooling energy demands. Since it does not use refrigerants, does not impose urban heating, and has low dependency on electricity, it catches an eye as a potential sustainable technology to slow down greenhouse gas emissions. Buildings' cooling energy profile demonstrates an intermittent nature leading to the core need of coupling with energy storage technologies. Therefore, this study evaluates prevalent thermal energy storage (TES) technologies, including sensible thermal energy storage and latent thermal energy storage using Phase Change Materials (PCM). It aims to provide valuable insights into selecting the most suitable TES solution for optimal integration with RC systems. Our results indicate that water tanks provide extended cooling demand coverage compared to PCM tanks. On average, they are also capable of storing more energy. Regarding thermal levels, the temperatures achieved by the end of the night are very similar in both types of tanks.