Invention:
This technology is a conic shield system to enhance radiative cooling and reduce evaporation in freshwater bodies such as reservoirs and lakes created by dams. Radiative cooling describes the passive cooling effect caused by emission of thermal radiation from an object. Water naturally experiences significant radiative cooling, but the cooling efficiency from bodies of water is often limited by their humid environments. This conic shield counteracts this problem via a mirror that directs infrared radiation away from the water while simultaneously reflecting it back into the atmosphere, using angular selectivity to restrict thermal emission to angles near the zenith to enhance radiative cooling efficiency. This also improves the cooling efficiency of bodies of water while reducing their evaporation. On a large scale, implemented on thousands of reservoirs, this technology has the potential to help offset global warming, and make a major impact on global water management.
Background:
Current strategies to tackle climate change center around reducing carbon emissions or recapturing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. However, a less-explored avenue to combat global warming is through engineering our planet to enhance its radiative cooling. This technology explores that potential, enhancing the radiative cooling of freshwater bodies to partially offset the effects of global warming. Furthermore, it has the added benefit of reducing evaporation from water sources, helping to reduce issues of water scarcity.
Applications:
- Radiative cooling
- Water management
- Environment / climate change
Advantages:
- Increases radiative cooling efficiency
- Reduces water evaporation
- Represents an advancement in passive cooling technology
