Numerical Simulation of Radiative Cooling Material Performanc Under Diverse Climatic Conditions

The growing need for sustainable and energy-efficient cooling solutions has driven the exploration of innovative materials for passive radiative cooling, particularly in mitigating urban heat island effects. This study presents a comprehensive multi-scale numerical simulation of BaSO4_4/PVDF-HFP polymeric composites, designed to enhance radiative cooling performance across diverse climatic conditions. BaSO4_4 is chosen for its exceptional solar reflectance and infrared emissivity, properties that reduce solar absorption and maximize thermal radiation emission.

A multi-scale approach is adopted to analyze the thermal and optical properties of these composites, integrating advanced modeling techniques and experimental validations across scales from nanoscale to mesoscale. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal that BaSO4_4 dispersion improves key thermal properties, such as thermal conductivity and heat capacity, while COMSOL Multiphysics simulations show how nanoscale textures and surface structures enhance optical behaviors like reflectance and emissivity. The results highlight the potential of BaSO4_4/PVDF-HFP composites to achieve sub-ambient cooling, with optimized surface structures improving solar reflectance and thermal emission. Simulations and experimental comparisons demonstrate significant cooling efficiencies under varying climatic conditions. Notably, tailoring surface roughness and BaSo4_4 distribution within the matrix enhances cooling performance, making these materials adaptable to diverse climates.

These findings reveal the potential of tailored particle dispersion and surface structuring to achieve sub-ambient cooling performance, even in challenging climates.

This work contributes to the development of next-generation materials for solar energy systems, thermal barrier coatings, and passive cooling technologies. It establishes a predictive framework for designing scalable, high-performance coatings adaptable to diverse climates.

Work In Progress