A Leap Towards Sustainable Cooling: MIT’s Trailblazing Passive Cooling System

In the quest for more sustainable living solutions, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have made significant strides in advancing passive cooling technology, a mechanism that necessitates no electricity. Spearheaded by post-doctoral researcher Zhengmao Lu, the team managed to achieve a cooling effect of up to 19 degrees Fahrenheit (9.3 degrees Celsius).

At the core of this innovation is the fusion of two existing passive cooling technologies, augmented with thermal insulation to provide enhanced cooling efficiency. This system marks a departure from conventional methods like digging underground chambers for cooling. The only upkeep it necessitates is the occasional addition of water, the frequency of which hinges on the local humidity levels.

Deployed atop an MIT building, the prototype, comprising boxes four inches (10 cm) across, could easily be mistaken for solar panels at a glance. The apparatus is constituted of three distinctive material layers. The topmost layer is crafted from aerogel, a polyethylene-based sponge-like structure with air-filled cavities. Though insulative, this layer permits water vapor and infrared radiation to traverse through.

Beneath the aerogel resides a layer of hydrogel, another sponge-like substance but with water-filled cavities. The bottom layer is mirror-like, reflecting incoming light back upwards, preventing the storage box contents from heating up.

The system operates by heating the water in the hydrogel, converting it to vapor that ascends, taking along some of the heat—a process known as evaporative cooling. This vapor, along with infrared radiation allowed through the aerogel, facilitates radiative cooling, dissipating some heat from the device into the atmosphere and space.

The ramifications of this innovation are promising. It could prolong food storage duration by 40% in humid conditions and up to 300% in drier climates. Additionally, the technology could alleviate the burden on air conditioning compressors, enhancing their efficiency and contributing to energy savings.

However, a significant hurdle looms on the path to commercialization. The aerogel, a crucial component, requires a costly manufacturing process involving specialized equipment for critical point drying (CPD). The research team is exploring cost-effective alternatives like freeze drying or employing different materials to circumvent the need for CPD, although the timeline for these solutions remains uncertain.

Published in Cell Reports Physical Science journal, the research introduces an insulated cooling with evaporation and radiation (ICER) system, amalgamating thermal insulation, evaporative cooling, and radiative cooling. ICER shows promise in consistently achieving below-wet-bulb temperatures with reduced water consumption compared to pure evaporation, especially under direct sunlight.

This innovation by MIT researchers is a stepping stone towards addressing the challenges inherent in passive cooling technologies, offering a glimmer of hope for sustainable, energy-saving cooling solutions in a warming world.