Submitted by chrisdh79 t3_yk4cgd in Futurology
Comments
ThirtyMileSniper t1_iur5m3d wrote
Great. I remember the initial concept being discussed while I was studying 20 years ago. Now they have the compound hopefully it will be a product within the next five years.
Mind you, generally things like this go on trials for twenty years or so to check the real world lifespan and reactions. No one wants to have their shiny glass tower look all flaky 10 years in.
FuturologyBot t1_iur8vpz wrote
The following submission statement was provided by /u/chrisdh79:
From the article: Studies have estimated that cooling accounts for about 15% of global energy consumption. That demand could be lowered with a window coating that could block the sun's ultraviolet and near-infrared light—the parts of the solar spectrum that typically pass through glass to heat an enclosed room. Energy use could be reduced even further if the coating radiates heat from the window's surface at a wavelength that passes through the atmosphere into outer space. However, it's difficult to design materials that can meet these criteria simultaneously and can also transmit visible light, meaning they don't interfere with the view. Eungkyu Lee, Tengfei Luo and colleagues set out to design a "transparent radiative cooler" (TRC) that could do just that.
The team constructed computer models of TRCs consisting of alternating thin layers of common materials like silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, aluminum oxide or titanium dioxide on a glass base, topped with a film of polydimethylsiloxane. They optimized the type, order and combination of layers using an iterative approach guided by machine learning and quantum computing, which stores data using subatomic particles. This computing method carries out optimization faster and better than conventional computers because it can efficiently test all possible combinations in a fraction of a second. This produced a coating design that, when fabricated, beat the performance of conventionally designed TRCs in addition to one of the best commercial heat-reduction glasses on the market.
In hot, dry cities, the researchers say, the optimized TRC could potentially reduce cooling energy consumption by 31% compared with conventional windows. They note their findings could be applied to other applications, since TRCs could also be used on car and truck windows. In addition, the group's quantum computing-enabled optimization technique could be used to design other types of composite materials.
Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/yk4cgd/clear_window_coating_could_cool_buildings_without/iur52hu/
lyacdi t1_iurb0y4 wrote
Probably yeah, but the effect in summer might outweigh that due to the lower sun angle and less hours of sun in winter. Additionally, it would be irrelevant in some climates, and also some places have geothermal heating.
Brumblebeard t1_iurdhzw wrote
Imagine this for van life instead of reflectix. Just some window tint and this. Bam! r/Vandwellers
therealzombieczar t1_iurf9ll wrote
yes, but not as well, and not easily seen through...
the thing is, 3m did this 15 years ago, at like 2% opacity
once the light gets inside the coverings will heat up the interior with what it doesn't reflect out.
SuperSimpleSam t1_iuri1g8 wrote
It can be placed like a screen and removed when the weather cools.
Chipchow t1_iurkl90 wrote
Thanks for the explanation.
dabloney t1_iurqb54 wrote
Don’t know about where you are but in the upper Midwest USA the sun is almost non existent throughout winter so it wouldn’t make much if any of a difference.
RocketSkate t1_iuruivs wrote
I feel like this is only a super relevant use for much hotter climates. Think how hot the lower states, or South America, or India get. With things like the heat waves ripping across Europe the past couple years, it could be really handy. I didn't read enough to see if it retains temperature on the other side (like retaining cooler air) though.
dabloney t1_iurv0gn wrote
That’s absolutely true about those places but where I am we have weeks of 90F days and are forecast to have many days in to 100s in within the next 30-50 years. We are all going to need better cooling
And hotter climates don’t have to worry about the winter effect this commenter mentioned
AftyOfTheUK t1_iurw0im wrote
So you wouldn't install them on buildings like that?
Primarily these would be installed on buildings in hot climates for most/all of the year.
bossonhigs t1_ius1ay6 wrote
You can spec trims in cars to have UV protection glass. This is nothing really new. And it also blocks around 15% of UV so it's that much less hotter in a car.
n3w4cc01_1nt t1_ius6faa wrote
These coatings can cause depression. If people don't get adequate uv's they become unmotivated.
Northman67 t1_ius7o6q wrote
Wouldn't that actually reduce shareholder value though? I believe the most important shareholders already have a strong investment in energy and oil so if you did something where buildings used less energy you would be directly impacting their bottom line. The long-term effects of this could be disastrous to the economy.
physx_rt t1_ius957p wrote
You don't have a winter-like season in all regions.
Fred-ditor t1_iuseyms wrote
It will be a lot more than 15 percent if temperatures keep rising
lagrange_james_d23dt t1_iusfjmy wrote
Somebody else kind of mentioned it, but this isn’t really new technology (at least not the coating). That is a typical band pass filter that blocks UV and IR, but allows the vis to pass. The siloxane final layer is interesting, and is likely for durability. Most band passes that my work has used/developed just end in SiO2 (which can also act as a hard coat). I think the biggest draw is the quantum computed design, but I think the traditionally designed thin film stacks perform well enough- the issue is actually manufacturing limitations: uniformity of the coating over large pieces of glass, large chambers needed to hold the glass, many layers needed lead to high cost, etc.
going2leavethishere t1_iusoskg wrote
If they take this tech a step further like with transition glass. We could be seeing a different way to control our thermostat.
Alis451 t1_iusq75x wrote
> Now they have the compound hopefully it will be a product within the next five years.
It has been on cars for a while now, the Drivers side windows are Infrared coated while the windshield is UV coated, this unfortunately prevents Transition lenses from working.
straight_up_tabled t1_iusrb61 wrote
This has been in existence for at least a decade.
straight_up_tabled t1_iusrijz wrote
Pretty sure this stuff has been around for at least ten years. Is that what’s making Mexicans flood our border?
straight_up_tabled t1_iusrmcu wrote
This is old tech. Strange that someone just posted this knowing nothing about it
straight_up_tabled t1_iusrqxc wrote
Actually very old and very widely distributed product. Ever heard of infrared window tint? I had some installed in 2005.
straight_up_tabled t1_iusrtim wrote
I can close my blinds. I can’t close tint.
ThirtyMileSniper t1_iuss1kf wrote
TIL.
This makes sense in terms of trialling it as well since those windows are going to see much more wear.
I'm not surprised I missed this though since my last vehicle was 2006 registered and the current one is six years old.
lagrange_james_d23dt t1_iust0mo wrote
A tint is different than a band pass in that it is usually either a polarizer (like sunglasses) or a neutral density filter in that it mutes light across the entire spectrum. Band passes look visibly clear, as all visible light would come through, but blocks the shorter (UV) and longer (IR) wavelengths. But agreed, the technology has been around for a while. I’m not sure when they were first designed, but I’ve produced anti-reflective coatings on chambers that are as old as the 1960s.
straight_up_tabled t1_iustd16 wrote
Some people call it tint paper. Same shit. Stop trying to call It something fancy no one has heard of before because you are misleading people.
lagrange_james_d23dt t1_iustk41 wrote
I’m a coating engineer- I’m not just making it up.
Edit: and I’m agreeing that the technology exists already, but I’m saying it’s different (and performs different) from car tints.
straight_up_tabled t1_iustscs wrote
You coat a PET film, no? That’s tint paper.
Also, are you claiming this is new tech?
therealzombieczar t1_iutl8zz wrote
true but this concept is likely meant for energy conservation in commercial buildings...
if you want to improve your own home use white or chrome metallic blinds and heavy curtains with a top(stops convection)
Fuzzy_Logic_4_Life t1_iuu51sm wrote
I’m pretty sure this is not new. I’ve seen silicone used on skyscrapers for insulation purposes. I plan on using it on my house, when and if I can afford one.
[deleted] t1_iuu5exo wrote
Zoidbergslicense t1_iuucrus wrote
A glazer needs to know- What surface of the glass is this designed to go on?
lagrange_james_d23dt t1_iuufzff wrote
I would think the exterior side (based on the hard coat at the end), but I’ve seen it either way for similar optics.
Kyuubiunl t1_iuvpela wrote
Weird when you see Guatemalans and Hondurans escaping military juntas and gangs brought on by decades of sphere of influence politics where the US and other western nations did everything in our power to gimp South American democracy by installing banana republics….and you just see Mexicans somehow. Even when your “entertainment “ shows the trail these migrants traveled literally originated south of Mexico. Brain damage is a hell of a drug.
straight_up_tabled t1_iuvphiq wrote
Is joke comrade
chrisdh79 OP t1_iur52hu wrote
From the article: Studies have estimated that cooling accounts for about 15% of global energy consumption. That demand could be lowered with a window coating that could block the sun's ultraviolet and near-infrared light—the parts of the solar spectrum that typically pass through glass to heat an enclosed room. Energy use could be reduced even further if the coating radiates heat from the window's surface at a wavelength that passes through the atmosphere into outer space. However, it's difficult to design materials that can meet these criteria simultaneously and can also transmit visible light, meaning they don't interfere with the view. Eungkyu Lee, Tengfei Luo and colleagues set out to design a "transparent radiative cooler" (TRC) that could do just that.
The team constructed computer models of TRCs consisting of alternating thin layers of common materials like silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, aluminum oxide or titanium dioxide on a glass base, topped with a film of polydimethylsiloxane. They optimized the type, order and combination of layers using an iterative approach guided by machine learning and quantum computing, which stores data using subatomic particles. This computing method carries out optimization faster and better than conventional computers because it can efficiently test all possible combinations in a fraction of a second. This produced a coating design that, when fabricated, beat the performance of conventionally designed TRCs in addition to one of the best commercial heat-reduction glasses on the market.
In hot, dry cities, the researchers say, the optimized TRC could potentially reduce cooling energy consumption by 31% compared with conventional windows. They note their findings could be applied to other applications, since TRCs could also be used on car and truck windows. In addition, the group's quantum computing-enabled optimization technique could be used to design other types of composite materials.