This 'Cold Tube' can beat the summer heat without relying on air conditioning:
"Air conditioners work by cooling down and dehumidifying the air around us—an expensive and not particularly environmentally friendly proposition," explains project co-lead Adam Rysanek, assistant professor of environmental systems at UBC's school of architecture and landscape architecture, whose work focuses on future energy systems and green buildings. "The Cold Tube works by absorbing the heat directly emitted by radiation from a person without having to cool the air passing over their skin. This achieves a significant amount of energy savings."
The Cold Tube is a system of rectangular wall or ceiling panels that are kept cold by chilled water circulating within them. Since heat naturally moves by radiation from a hotter surface to a colder surface, when a person stands beside or under the panel, their body heat radiates towards the colder panel. This creates a sensation of cooling like cold air flowing over the body even if the air temperature is quite high.
Although these types of cooling panels have been used in the building industry for several decades, what makes the Cold Tube unique is that it does not need to be combined with a dehumidification system. Just as a cold glass of lemonade would condense water on a hot summer day, cooling down walls and ceilings in buildings would also condense water without first drying out the air around the panels. The researchers behind the Cold Tube conceived of an airtight, humidity-repelling membrane to encase the chilled panels to prevent condensation from forming while still allowing radiation to travel through.
A new cooling system for your home?
(Score: 3, Insightful) by JoeMerchant on Friday August 21 2020, @12:51AM
Ah cool, then the kids will have something to do when they turn 50
Well, the kids are already 15, so if this one lasts like the previous they'll be nearly 65 when it goes.
However, this one already "took a break" after a lightning strike - came back when the breakers were reset, but if it's like the yard lights - it might not be at 100% after that strike. Also, I'm pretty sure that industry endeavors to make things that DON'T last 50+ years anymore - in the name of saving $0.30 on bearings they can ensure that a pump will wear out after 10 or 20 years instead of 50 or 60.
🌻🌻 [google.com]