Energy saving potential of passive radiative cool coating in high-rise data center with neighboring infrastructure

• Published in: Energy (Oxford) 2024-12, Vol.312, p.133540, Article 133540
• Main Authors: Chan, Yin Hoi, Wang, Yi Fan, Chan, Ka Chung, Lin, Kaixin, Ho, Tsz Chung, Tso, Chi Yan, Chao, Christopher Yu Hang, Fu, Sau Chung
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Building energy simulation; Cool paint; Data center; Energy saving; Passive cooling
• ISSN: 0360-5442
• DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2024.133540

To coordinate with the evolution of I&T, it is indicated to enhance the number of data center (DC) worldwide, which involves enormous cooling demand that may lead to energy wastage if the facility is not constructed energy-efficiently, impeding decarbonization. Passive radiative cooler (PRC) have exhibited their energy-saving capability in many studies. Being a windowless building, DC has extensive coverage area for PRC comparing to other buildings that require outdoor visual access. The power-saving potential of a dual-layer daytime radiative cooling paint (DDRCC) in a high-rise DC was investigated at multi-building scale using a self-created site model under Hong Kong's humid subtropical climate. Besides the roof, which has been the target PRC-employed surface in previous studies, this work deployed DDRCC on roof and vertical façade of the DC, attaining optimal saving of 652–821 kW and cooling power of 23.4–29.5 W/m2, demonstrating its practicability in high-rise building. DDRCC accomplished cooling power of 2.5–48.0 W/m2 in scenarios with various configuration of PRC-utilized envelope. Additionally, for the site studied, the cooling power of DDRCC enhanced with aspect ratio when the height of adjacent buildings was comparable to the DC. DDRCC was competent to achieve power-saving with walls of different thermal resistances. •PRC-paint showed viability on roof and vertical facet in high-rise data center.•More eminent cooling power when PRC-paint was used at major solar-absorbing façade.•The impact of adjacent high-rise and canyon aspect ratio on PRC-paint was studied.•Cooling power observed to be more pronounced when exploited to zone with data hall.•PRC-paint achieved cooling power of ∼48 W/m2 under various adoption configuration.