A passive temperature regulator

Maintaining stable temperatures is crucial for civilization, but it typically requires substantial energy consumption, contributing to significant carbon footprints. Despite advancements in passive heating/cooling technologies, achieving purely passive temperature regulation in volatile environments...

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Main Authors: Li Jinlei, Jiang Tengyao, Song Yan, Jiang Yi, Shi Peiru, Xu Ning, Lin Zhenhui, Zhu Bin, Tan Gang, Zhu Jia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Science Press 2024-08-01
Series:National Science Open
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Online Access:https://www.sciengine.com/doi/10.1360/nso/20240019
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author Li Jinlei
Jiang Tengyao
Song Yan
Jiang Yi
Shi Peiru
Xu Ning
Lin Zhenhui
Zhu Bin
Tan Gang
Zhu Jia
author_facet Li Jinlei
Jiang Tengyao
Song Yan
Jiang Yi
Shi Peiru
Xu Ning
Lin Zhenhui
Zhu Bin
Tan Gang
Zhu Jia
author_sort Li Jinlei
collection DOAJ
description Maintaining stable temperatures is crucial for civilization, but it typically requires substantial energy consumption, contributing to significant carbon footprints. Despite advancements in passive heating/cooling technologies, achieving purely passive temperature regulation in volatile environments remains a challenge due to the temporal mismatch between heating/cooling demand and passive power supply. Here, we demonstrate a passive temperature regulator that balances the power demand and supply through a tailored sandwich structure, integrating the functionalities of harvesting, storage, and release of passive solar heat and space coldness. Outdoor experiments demonstrate that the regulator maintains a target temperature for 96% (71%) of the testing period in winter (summer). Compared to conventional solar absorbers (radiative coolers), the regulator saves 56% (30%) of energy across 31 cities worldwide in achieving stable temperatures. The regulator represents an important advancement in passive temperature regulation with minimized carbon footprint and shows attractive prospects both on Earth and in outer space.
format Article
id doaj-art-166c56d51c3046ee93618b5942d0fb3d
institution DOAJ
issn 2097-1168
language English
publishDate 2024-08-01
publisher Science Press
record_format Article
series National Science Open
spelling doaj-art-166c56d51c3046ee93618b5942d0fb3d2025-08-20T02:47:21ZengScience PressNational Science Open2097-11682024-08-01310.1360/nso/20240019eb33e642A passive temperature regulatorLi Jinlei0Jiang Tengyao1Song Yan2Jiang Yi3Shi Peiru4Xu Ning5Lin Zhenhui6Zhu Bin7Tan Gang8Zhu Jia9["National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, Frontiers Science Center for Critical Earth Material Cycling, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China"]["School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China"]["National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, Frontiers Science Center for Critical Earth Material Cycling, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China"]["National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, Frontiers Science Center for Critical Earth Material Cycling, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China"]["National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, Frontiers Science Center for Critical Earth Material Cycling, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China"]["National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, Frontiers Science Center for Critical Earth Material Cycling, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China"]["National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, Frontiers Science Center for Critical Earth Material Cycling, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China"]["National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, Frontiers Science Center for Critical Earth Material Cycling, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China"]["College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China"]["National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Artificial Functional Materials, Frontiers Science Center for Critical Earth Material Cycling, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China","School of Sustainable Energy and Resources, Nanjing University, Suzhou 215163, China"]Maintaining stable temperatures is crucial for civilization, but it typically requires substantial energy consumption, contributing to significant carbon footprints. Despite advancements in passive heating/cooling technologies, achieving purely passive temperature regulation in volatile environments remains a challenge due to the temporal mismatch between heating/cooling demand and passive power supply. Here, we demonstrate a passive temperature regulator that balances the power demand and supply through a tailored sandwich structure, integrating the functionalities of harvesting, storage, and release of passive solar heat and space coldness. Outdoor experiments demonstrate that the regulator maintains a target temperature for 96% (71%) of the testing period in winter (summer). Compared to conventional solar absorbers (radiative coolers), the regulator saves 56% (30%) of energy across 31 cities worldwide in achieving stable temperatures. The regulator represents an important advancement in passive temperature regulation with minimized carbon footprint and shows attractive prospects both on Earth and in outer space.https://www.sciengine.com/doi/10.1360/nso/20240019energy-saving technologypassive temperature stabilizationsolar thermal conversionradiative cooling
spellingShingle Li Jinlei
Jiang Tengyao
Song Yan
Jiang Yi
Shi Peiru
Xu Ning
Lin Zhenhui
Zhu Bin
Tan Gang
Zhu Jia
A passive temperature regulator
National Science Open
energy-saving technology
passive temperature stabilization
solar thermal conversion
radiative cooling
title A passive temperature regulator
title_full A passive temperature regulator
title_fullStr A passive temperature regulator
title_full_unstemmed A passive temperature regulator
title_short A passive temperature regulator
title_sort passive temperature regulator
topic energy-saving technology
passive temperature stabilization
solar thermal conversion
radiative cooling
url https://www.sciengine.com/doi/10.1360/nso/20240019
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