Polymer-based selective radiative cooling structures are provided which include a selectively emissive layer of a polymer or a polymer matrix composite material. Exemplary selective radiative cooling structures are in the form of a sheet, film or coating. Also provided are methods for removing heat from a body by selective thermal radiation using polymer-based selective radiative cooling structures.

A system for obtaining energy consumptions, savings and cost reduction in structures adapted for human habitation which includes the utilization of a plurality of mats including phase change material encapsulated within first and second layers of plastic material having heat transfer capability disposed within the plenum area above a ceiling of a room within a building with the amount of phase change material contained within each mat being between 0.5 lbs. and 0.67 lbs. per square foot.

A radiant cooling system comprises an enclosure, a cooling element and a cooling device. The enclosure includes a first wall that is transmissive of infrared radiation. The cooling element is disposed in the enclosure. The cooling device is coupled to the cooling element. The cooling element provides cooling mainly by radiative exchange. The system promotes cooling by radiative exchange and significantly reduces condensation problems and is compatible with open and enclosed spaces. Thermal losses of cooling power to conductive and convective pathways are significantly reduced. The system comes in a variety of forms including flat, cylindrical and dome-like geometries.

Using thermal radiation to supply occupant comfort has long existed in the heating domain, and to a lesser scale in the cooling domain. Cooling power of radiant cooling systems is limited by the risk of condensation on the panel itself, as well as adjacent surfaces. Similarly, convective system losses to the ambient air prevent maintaining a large temperature difference from the surface and the surroundings. The disclosed approach combats these common pitfalls of radiant cooling systems in the building domain, increasing the power and therefore applicability of radiant cooling.

The innovation uses the disparity between dry and wet conditions of the air, by storing the dryness or wetness in a hygroscopic material. When the surrounding air is drier or wetter than the hygroscopic material, the potential energy difference between moisture in the air and that in the material can be used as a way of transporting heat from the material to the air and vice versa. A simple way this energy can be used is for heating and cooling of a building. For example, a large storage of adsorbing material can be dried in the hot summer, and allowed to re-adsorb water in the cold winter, thus gaining heat that can be used for domestic heating.

A controller assembly allows an adjusted flow of water through a hydronic emitter in order to heat or cool an environmental entity. The controller assembly operates in two phases: a calibration phase and an operational phase. During the calibration phase, the controller assembly discovers a valve position where water starts to flow through the hydronic emitter based on signals from a temperature sensor and/or a sound sensor. The temperature sensor may be mounted in close proximity of the emitter inlet so that the controller assembly can detect when the temperature starts to change. The sound sensor may be mounted on the valve body to detect a rushing water sound that is associated with a start of the water flow. The discovered valve position is subsequently used by the controller assembly to adjust water flow between a minimum flow and a maximum flow.

Polymer-based selective radiative cooling structures are provided which include a selectively emissive layer of a polymer or a polymer matrix composite material. Exemplary selective radiative cooling structures are in the form of a sheet, film or coating. Also provided are methods for removing heat from a body by selective thermal radiation using polymer-based selective radiative cooling structures.

A heat exchanger element (1) has a heat-conducting body (2) and a heat-transfer fluid pipe (8) which is connected thereto in a heat-conducting manner and which are embedded in sections in ducts (5) of heat-conducting material in heat-conducting contact, the ducts (5) having a channel-shaped locating section (7) and two tabs (6) connected thereto, so that the ducts (5) are approximately -shaped in cross-section, and wherein the tabs (6) are connected flat to the heat-conducting body (2) in order to establish the heat-conducting connection of the heat-conducting fluid pipe (8) to the heat-conducting body (2). To produce the heat exchanger element (1), foil strips are pressed into grooves so that they each form a section (7) pressed into the grooves (23) in a channel-like manner and laterally projecting tabs (6); sections of a heat transfer fluid pipe (8) are inserted into the channel-like sections (7) of the foil strips; and the tabs (6) are connected flat to a heat transfer body (2). A building panel with an area of at least 1 m.sup.2 comprises a heat exchanger element (1) with a heat exchange surface (14), a cooling device and a collecting device, the cooling device being designed to cool the heat exchange surface (14) in contact with the ambient air to a temperature below the dew point of the water vapour in the ambient air, the contact surface having an inclination to the horizontal so that condensed water can drain from it, and the collecting device being designed to collect and discharge condensed water in a controlled manner. A method of dehumidifying air uses a building panel which lowers the temperature of the ambient air below the dew point so that the air moisture condenses on the building panel, the building panel being so inclined that the condensed water drains into a collecting device.

An air handling system is disclosed that includes an integral chilled water refrigeration system. The air handling system additionally includes a first coil section that provides cooling and a second coil section that provides heating. The second coil section and associated terminal units are in fluid communication with the first refrigeration system.

A system for obtaining energy consumptions, savings and cost reduction in structures adapted for human habitation which includes the utilization of a plurality of mats including phase change material encapsulated within first and second layers of plastic material having heat transfer capability disposed within the plenum area above a ceiling of a room within a building with the amount of phase change material contained within each mat being between 0.5 lbs. and 0.67 lbs. per square foot.