The molecule captures energy from the sun and releases it later as heat. Illustration: Yen Strandqvist / Chalmers
A window film with a specially designed molecule could be capable of taking the edge off the worst midday heat and instead distributing it evenly from morning to evening. The molecule has the unique ability to capture energy from the sun’s rays and release it later as heat.
This is shown by researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, in the scientific journal Advanced Science.
On sunny summer days, it can be little short of unbearable to stay indoors or in cars. The heat radiates in and creates an unpleasantly high temperature for people, animals, and plants. Using energy-intensive systems such as air conditioning and fans means combating the thermal energy with other forms of energy. Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology are proposing a method that utilises the heat and distributes it evenly over a longer period instead.
When their specially designed molecule is struck by the sun’s rays it captures photons and simultaneously changes form – it is isomerised. When the sun stops shining on the window film the molecules release heat for up to eight hours after the sun has set.
“The aim is to create a pleasant indoor environment even when the sun is at its hottest, without consuming any energy or having to shut ourselves behind blinds. Why not make the most of the energy that we get free of charge instead of trying to fight it,” says chemist Kasper Moth-Poulsen, who is leading the research.
At dawn when the film has not absorbed any solar energy it is yellow or orange since these colours are the opposite of blue and green, which is the light spectrum that the researchers have chosen to capture from the sun. When the molecule captures solar energy and is isomerised, it loses its colour and then becomes entirely transparent. As long as the sun is shining on the film it captures energy, which means that not as much heat penetrates through the film and into the room. At dusk, when there is less sunlight, heat starts to be released from the film and it gradually returns to its yellow shade and is ready to capture sunlight again the following day.
“For example, airports and office complexes should be able to reduce their energy consumption while also creating a more pleasant climate with our film, since the current heating and cooling systems often do not keep up with rapid temperature fluctuations,” says Moth-Poulsen.
The molecule is part of a concept the research team calls MOST, which stands for ‘Molecular Solar Thermal Storage’. Previously the team presented an energy system for houses based on the same molecule (see the related press release below). In that case – after the solar energy had been captured by the molecule – it could be stored for an extended period, such as from summer to winter, and then used to heat an entire house. The researchers realised that they could shorten the step to application by optimising the molecule for a window film as well, which would also create better conditions for the slightly more complex energy system for houses.
What the researchers still have to do is to increase the concentration of the molecule in the film whilst also retaining the film’s properties, and bring down the price of the molecule. But according to Moth-Poulsen they are very close to this innovation.
“The step to applying our film is so short that it could happen very soon. We are at a very exciting stage with MOST,” he says.
Learn more: Window film could even out the indoor temperature using solar energy
The Latest on: Molecular Solar Thermal Storage
via Google News
The Latest on: Molecular Solar Thermal Storage
- New Molecular Energy Storage System Lets You to Charge Your Devices With Liquid Sunlighton May 19, 2022 at 7:02 am
Is this the future of charging tech? Like us on Facebook to see similar stories Please give an overall site rating: ...
- Renewables snapshot: Are we on track to decarbonise the globe?on May 15, 2022 at 6:32 pm
Adding all renewables together brings the figure to 84%. Solar PV and wind have both reached about 0.9 Terawatts (TW) of installed capacity. They must do the heavy lifting to mitigate climate change.
- Concentrating Solar Power Market Size, Witness Highest Growth in near future by 2030on May 13, 2022 at 2:14 am
The Global Concentrating Solar Power Market size is estimated to be USD 37.40 billion in 2019 and is projected to reach USD 114.42 billion by 2030 with a ...
- DOE to Spend $21 Million on Thermal Solar Desalination Researchon May 11, 2022 at 5:00 pm
(Image source: Tampa Bay Seawater Desalination Plant) Desalination of water takes a lot of energy because salt is easily dissolved into water and forms strong chemical bonds ... the low-cost ...
- Utility Scale Storageon May 2, 2022 at 11:14 pm
Maoneng has unveiled ambitious plans to build a giant solar farm and battery energy storage facility in Australia. Elsewhere, Lotte Chemical and ... which stores thermal energy in liquid air ...
- Solar energy can now be stored for up to 18 years, say scientistson April 19, 2022 at 5:00 pm
Long-term storage of the energy they generate is another matter. The solar energy system created at Chalmers back in 2017 is known as ‘MOST’: Molecular Solar Thermal Energy Storage Systems.
- New liquid system could revolutionize solar energyon April 14, 2022 at 5:01 pm
The system, called the Molecular Solar Thermal (MOST) system ... revolutionary step in the process to make liquid solar energy storage more viable. And, once perfected, it could open entirely ...
- Converting solar energy to electricity on demandon April 11, 2022 at 4:04 am
The new technology is based on the solar energy system MOST – Molecular Solar Thermal Energy Storage Systems, developed at Chalmers University of Technology. Very simply, the technology is based ...
via Bing News