Numerical Simulation of the Passive Radiative Cooling Fabric Based on Fiber‐Yarn‐Texture‐Doping Particle 3D Model

Abstract

AbstractDeveloping passive radiative cooling fabrics could effectively prevent the harmful consequences of global warming, including heat stress and other related illnesses. By enhancing the material compositions and optimizing the structural parameters of conventional fabrics, the creation of radiative cooling fabric that offers both comfort and durability holds great potential. However, the researched simulation models are over‐simplistic, rendering it challenging to precisely portray the fine fabric's structure with the low accuracy of optical properties prediction. In this work, a high‐fidelity model is developed for fabric structure, which allows for precise control of structural parameters of fiber, yarn, texture, and doping particles. Subsequently, by utilizing the FDTD Solutions software, the optical performance of the fabric model is successfully addressed. Furthermore, the coupled heat transfer equation is employed to determine the actual cooling effect of the fabric. It is observed that doping 1% TiO2 nanoparticles and increasing the number of fibers significantly enhances the solar reflectivity, resulting in a cooling effect of approximately 2 °C. To maintain the skin temperature of 34°C, the additional cooling energy required would be reduced by 36 W m−2. These findings are expected to provide crucial guidance and predictions for the development of passive radiative cooling fabrics.