The Alternative to Air Conditioning Doesn’t Require Electricity: All You Need Is Clay and a Good Design

In the search for alternatives to air conditioning, there are many options available, ranging from French inventions that don’t require gas to German inventions based on “muscles.” TerraMound goes even further when it comes to cooling: It doesn’t need electricity.

Evaporative cooling. TerraMound uses adiabatic cooling, a method that had long been used in Egypt. Specifically, this method accelerates the evaporation process of water to cool the air in the room without requiring a power source.

A design made of clay. Researcher Rameshwari Jonnalagedda developed this project at University College London in the UK. She created a cooling system based on natural formations like termite mounds using clay and 3D-printed ceramics with a specific design.

3D printing to create the perfect surfaces. The project utilized a Delta WASP 40100 Clay, a 3D printer capable of producing complex structures with precise adapted surfaces. The project features various geometric shapes designed to maximize airflow.

Water-based. The project used a ceramic porous structure where water is poured into a pot at the top. The dripping water produces evaporative cooling.

The clay is key (kind of). This system works thanks to the clay’s ability to absorb moisture from the environment, which is known as a hygroscopic capacity. The TerraMound system maximizes airflow through its forms to take full advantage of this ability to absorb moisture.

At its current stage, the system requires minimal electricity to operate due to insufficient air currents. The TerraMound prototype uses a small battery-powered fan to create the necessary airflow for the cooling effect.

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Potential applications. This cooling system has vast potential for application in various settings, from walls to filtration systems. While the prototype uses a small fan, if scaled up, ambient air could suffice without the need for electricity.

In essence, this is a passive cooling system using porous cells. The structure, through its shape, can “breathe” in water and reduce the ambient temperature. It serves as an alternative to traditional cooling systems, combining ancient principles with modern technology.

This article was written by Enrique Pérez and originally published in Spanish on Xataka.

Image | Terramound

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