Surfaces for Radiative Cooling to Low Temperatures

doi:10.1117/3.2512522.ch6

Book: Spectrally Selective Surfaces for Heating and Cooling Applications

Editor(s): Claes-Goeran Granqvist

Published: 1989

https://doi.org/10.1117/3.2512522.ch6

Abstract

We first look back at Fig. 3.1(c), which indicated that the atmospheric absorptance can be weak in the 8-13 mm spectral range. The thermal radiation is strong at these wavelengths for objects at normal ambient temperature. If we consider a surface exposed to the sky, its emitted radiation does not have to be balanced by counterradiation; i.e., the surface can be spontaneously cooled. The magnitude of this source of cooling and materials with the desired radiative surface properties (which are selective) are covered below. Materials development for radiative cooling is a rather new research topic.