Multistage and passive cooling process driven by salinity difference

Alberghini, Matteo; Morciano, Matteo; Fasano, Matteo; Bertiglia, Fabio; Fernicola, Vito; Asinari, Pietro; Chiavazzo, Eliodoro

doi:10.1126/sciadv.aax5015

Space cooling in buildings is anticipated to rise because of an increasing thermal comfort demand worldwide, and this calls for cost-effective and sustainable cooling technologies. We present a proof-of-concept multistage device, where a net cooling capacity and a temperature difference are demonstrated as long as two water solutions at disparate salinity are maintained. Each stage is made of two hydrophilic layers separated by a hydrophobic membrane. An imbalance in water activity in the two layers naturally causes a non-isothermal vapor flux across the membrane without requiring any mechanical ancillaries. One prototype of the device developed a specific cooling capacity of up to 170 W m−2 at a vanishing temperature difference, considering a 3.1 mol/kg calcium chloride solution. To provide perspective, if successfully up-scaled, this concept may help satisfy at least partially the cooling needs in hot, humid regions with naturally available salinity gradients.

Multistage and passive cooling process driven by salinity difference / Alberghini, Matteo; Morciano, Matteo; Fasano, Matteo; Bertiglia, Fabio; Fernicola, Vito; Asinari, Pietro; Chiavazzo, Eliodoro. - In: SCIENCE ADVANCES. - ISSN 2375-2548. - ELETTRONICO. - 6:11(2020), p. eaax5015.

Titolo:	Multistage and passive cooling process driven by salinity difference
Autori:	ALBERGHINI, MATTEO MORCIANO, MATTEO FASANO, MATTEO Bertiglia, Fabio FERNICOLA, VITO ASINARI, PIETRO CHIAVAZZO, ELIODORO mostra contributor esterni nascondi contributor esterni
Data di pubblicazione:	2020
Rivista:	SCIENCE ADVANCES
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aax5015
Appare nelle tipologie:	1.1 Articolo in rivista

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http://hdl.handle.net/11583/2803232

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