Studies of Radiative Cooling Systems for Storing Thermal Energy

Abstract

The thermal performance of an uncovered radiator and a radiative cooling system was investigated experimentally and theoretically. The net radiative power of a black painted surface at ambient air temperature was measured by heat flux plates at night in order to use the results for predicting temperatures of the radiator surface and the fluid in the cooling system on the same night. The net radiative power obtained by the measurements was 40–60 W/m2 on clear nights in the summer and 60–80 W/m2 in the fall and winter. The average temperature of the energy storage tank on clear nights became 2–5°C below the ambient temperature. The experimental and analytical results agreed well with each other.