Thermal performance of radiative cooling panels

Abstract The performance of panels which cool by.means of thermal infrared heat transfer to the sky is calculated from basic principles. The efficiency of a radiative cooling panel is defined. Computer calculations with the full heat transfer equations are performed for horizontal surfaces with infrared-transparent covers. Plots of efficiency versus a dimensionless temperature difference are shown to be insensitive to variations in air temperature, wind speed, and sky radiance, resulting in plots analogous to standard efficiency curves for solar panels. Experimental measurements show that, for most applications, white paint is a better radiator than aluminized polyvinyl fluoride film.

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