Exploiting selective angular properties of retro-reflective coatings to mitigate solar irradiation within the urban canyon

Manni, Mattia; Lobaccaro, Gabriele; Goia, Francesco; Nicolini, Andrea; Rossi, Federico

doi:10.1016/j.solener.2019.07.045

Cited by 23 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Future development of the study could include an economic evaluation to estimate the financial impact of each specific intervention and its relation with indoor energy consumption. Furthermore, analyses on the use of novel cooling materials for pavement such as retro-reflective could be undertaken [112,113,114]. Finally, another potential intervention in terms of cooling effect can be the application of vegetation elements on the building envelope such as green façades on existing and new buildings [115,116].…”

Section: Conclusion and Further Developmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Orientations, Aspect Ratios, Pavement Materials and Vegetation Elements on Thermal Stress inside Typical Urban Canyons

Lobaccaro

Acero

Martínez

et al. 2019

IJERPH

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The analysis of local climate conditions to test artificial urban boundaries and related climate hazards through modelling tools should become a common practice to inform public authorities about the benefits of planning alternatives. Different finishing materials and sheltering objects within urban canyons (UCs) can be tested, predicted and compared through quantitative and qualitative understanding of the relationships between the microclimatic environment and subjective thermal assessment. This process can work as support planning instrument in the early design phases as has been done in this study that aims to analyze the thermal stress within typical UCs of Bilbao (Spain) in summertime through the evaluation of Physiologically Equivalent Temperature using ENVI-met. The UCs are characterized by different orientations, height-to-width aspect ratios, pavement materials, trees’ dimensions and planting pattern. Firstly, the current situation was analyzed; secondly, the effects of asphalt and red brick stones as streets’ pavement materials were compared; thirdly, the benefits of vegetation elements were tested. The analysis demonstrated that orientation and aspect ratio strongly affect the magnitude and duration of the thermal peaks at pedestrian level; while the vegetation elements improve the thermal comfort up to two thermophysiological assessment classes. The outcomes of this study, were transferred and visualized into green planning recommendations for new and consolidated urban areas in Bilbao.

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Section: Conclusion and Further Developmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Orientations, Aspect Ratios, Pavement Materials and Vegetation Elements on Thermal Stress inside Typical Urban Canyons

Lobaccaro

Acero

Martínez

et al. 2019

IJERPH

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“…This work moves from the study carried out by Manni et al [42] in which the AS-RR materials were conceptualized and developed, with the aim of defining guidelines about their exploitation as innovative urban coatings through the Monte Carlo-based numerical model validated by Manni et al [39]. The Monte Carlo-based numerical model was chosen due to its high degree of accessibility: users can directly interact and modify all the parameters defining the physical criteria that reflection events are based on (i.e., ray exit angles, light scattering pattern, material optical properties) to assess inter-buildings short-wave solar reflections within the computational domain.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…Each urban canyon configuration was univocally defined by a combination of the orientation, aspect ratio, and material properties. The west-east orientation was evaluated since it represents the one showing the greatest difference in solar accessibility between the two façades [42]. Three different patterns of urban density, such as low, middle, and high density, were explored by varying the height-to-width ratio from 0.5 to 1.0, and to 2.0.…”

Section: Investigated Scenariosmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimized Cool Coatings as a Strategy to Improve Urban Equivalent Albedo at Various Latitudes

Manni

Nicolini

2021

Atmosphere

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This research study aimed to investigate the influences of angular-selective retro-reflective (AS-RR) and retro-reflective (RR) materials on the urban equivalent albedo (αeq). Full ray tracing solar analyses were conducted through the Monte Carlo-based numerical model validated in a previous work. Different geometry scenarios with different patterns of urban density were modelled. AS-RR and RR materials were alternately applied to the street and to the most irradiated façade. AS-RR materials were proposed to enhance the αeq of the urban environment particularly during summer. Solar analyses were reiterated for three latitudes (i.e., Oslo, Milan, Cairo). RR pavements and façades were capable of increasing the αeq throughout the year. However, implementing an angular-selective behavior allowed for a reduction of the mitigation potential of RR materials during the winter season. In their best application, RR and AS-RR materials enabled higher αeq in summer (122%) with negligible effects during the winter (7%). Finally, the study highlighted the need for exploiting numerical models capable of conducting full ray tracing solar analyses when investigating materials whose optical properties depend on the angle of incidence of the sunrays (such as RR materials).

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“…Highly reflective materials that had been demonstrated to be a valid solution to reduce global temperature [13], were proposed for the agricultural sector [14]. Their cooling potential was assessed at various latitudes [15][16][17]. When exploited on buildings' envelope, they generally contribute to lowering the energy consumption throughout the year [18].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influences of a Highly Reflective Mulching Membrane on Heat Propagation throughout the Soil

et al. 2021

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Agro-food chain impacts global greenhouse gas emissions by around 30%. To reduce this score without worsening food crops’ yield, new and more sustainable technologies (i.e., mulching membranes, advanced irrigation systems) were implemented. Within this framework, the present study aims to assess the influences on heat propagation throughout the soil of a highly reflective mulching membrane. An experimental facility was implemented in which the surface temperatures of both the soil and the membrane were monitored together with the temperature of the soil (at three depths). Five statistical days were defined by considering the same amount of percentiles of the monitored temperatures (0th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 100th percentiles). Then, the attenuation and the phase shift of the thermal wave throughout the soil and the cooling potential of the membrane were calculated. Although negligible variations from the uncovered soil were observed in surface temperature, the membrane enables a greater attenuation of the thermal wave throughout the soil. This can be up to 16 °C cooler than the surface, with potential benefits for plant growth. Furthermore, the membrane optical properties permit to offset carbon emissions from agriculture activities by around 0.1 tCO2-eq m−2.

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Exploiting selective angular properties of retro-reflective coatings to mitigate solar irradiation within the urban canyon

Cited by 23 publications

References 39 publications

Effects of Orientations, Aspect Ratios, Pavement Materials and Vegetation Elements on Thermal Stress inside Typical Urban Canyons

Effects of Orientations, Aspect Ratios, Pavement Materials and Vegetation Elements on Thermal Stress inside Typical Urban Canyons

Optimized Cool Coatings as a Strategy to Improve Urban Equivalent Albedo at Various Latitudes

Influences of a Highly Reflective Mulching Membrane on Heat Propagation throughout the Soil

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