Yakhchal Ice Maker from Iran and Modern Use For Radiant Sky Cooling
The cooling potential of the night sky was recognized by societies many centuries ago. In Iran, night sky radiant cooling was used to produce ice even when ambient air temperatures fail to drop below freezing. The tall walls of the yakhchal ran from east to west to fully shade shallow troughs of water throughout the day. These walls could be 10 m tall and 40 m across. In the winter the shade extends out 15 m, but only 7 m in August. The yakhchals came in different styles. Some had multiple shade walls, others curvilinear walls and walls of different … Continue reading