Radiative cooling: Experimental and numerical analysis for enhanced thermal management strategies in engineering systems

Abstract

This study aims to fully evaluate the radiation effect in existing cooling systems. The research, a combination of experimental analysis and numerical simulations using ANSYS Fluent, examines the complexity of radiative cooling processes and their impact on thermal management in various engineering applications. The experiments began by carefully placing a 112.5 W heater into the thermal channel. Next, temperature measurements were made under various conditions. In particular, the use of black cotton fabric as the inner duct lining applied in the thermal channel stands out as an innovation that aims to optimize heat absorption by increasing radiative properties. The findings highlight the significant impact of radiation on cooling performance. A temperature drop of 2–3°C was observed in cooling under the effect of radiation. Additionally, numerical simulations reveal the feasibility of radiative cooling systems by providing valuable information about the flow dynamics and heat transfer mechanisms within the channel. The novelty of this work is its detailed examination of radiative cooling effects and its focus on its potential to optimize thermal management strategies in various engineering applications. Explaining the role of radiation in heat transfer and providing practical information to improve cooling efficiency demonstrates that this research brings important insight and lays the foundation for future advances in the field. Considering the urgent need for energy-efficient cooling solutions and the increasing demand for sustainable engineering practices, the findings of this study will provide important insights for researchers and practitioners. This study provides innovative perspectives and solutions to address the increasing challenges of heat transfer and energy conservation in engineering systems. It makes a significant contribution to the field of thermal management by offering methodologies.