Definition of Evaporative Cooling

    Evaporative cooling is becoming increasingly relevant as energy costs continue to skyrocket, because it can be up to 80 percent more efficient than classic refrigeration or absorption air conditioning. Evaporative cooling is simply cooling of air or anything else by the evaporation of water or other liquids. It is easy to illustrate by merely pointing out the effectiveness of perspiration cooling, the human body's own built-in evaporative cooling system. Evaporative cooling works best in warm, dry climates such as is found in the Southwestern United States.

Latent Heat

    Evaporative cooling in a coffee cup.Whether from a boiling pot or a wet towel, water takes about the same amount of heat to vaporize, or turn from a liquid, a lower energy state, into a gaseous form, a higher energy state. This is called the latent heat of vaporization, and the heat source is any material or space from which or in which the vaporization takes place.

Preferential Environments

    Dry air has a particular affinity for moisture because water has such a low partial pressure due to water, and it is relatively easy for molecules of water that are moving rapidly to be absorbed by the dry air and assumed in a gaseous form. This is why the visible spires of water vapor rising off a hot cup of coffee disappear only several inches above the cup. Therefore, evaporative cooling is far more effective in dry locales, such as deserts and prairies, as opposed to tropical and subtropical climate zones, such as Florida.

Perspiration

    There is nothing quite like a brisk breeze on a hot day, because more strident air movement presents perspiring skin with a much higher volume of air with an affinity for water. Ceiling fans provide even and steady air movement, which is often just enough to keep diners or sleepers in tropical climes cool and comfortable. Dogs pant on a hot day because they only perspire through their tongues, and the panting or rapid breathing instinctively increases the amount of air passing over the tongue, which absorbs the water that causes the evaporative cooling.

Nature's Cooling

    Trees evaporate enormous amounts of water into the air through their leaves, which is why many vacationers prefer a cool stroll through a dense, tall forest on a hot sunny day to a walk on a beach.

Direct-Indirect Cooling

    The only downside to evaporative air  cooler  is that the air becomes more humid as it is cooled, which can be a trade off on a hot, muggy day. For this reason, indirect systems evaporate water outside of recirculating air ducting, so that a portion of the heat absorbed comes from the living quarters, without the added humidity, which is subsequently exhausted outside.

What Is Evaporative Air Cooler & When Does It Occur?

      Evaporative cooling is a process where liquid evaporates from a surface, making the surface cooler. This process occurs because the evaporating gas is hotter than the other parts of the surface, so the gas draws away heat energy when it rises off the surface. Evaporative cooling occurs in sweat, panting, air conditioning, hot drinks and lakes.
 Sweating

• Sweating is one example of evaporative cooling. Humans, as well as some other animals, perspire, producing liquid sweat through pores on their skin. The sweat is mostly water, which has a high heat of vaporization. Heat of vaporization refers to the amount of energy that must be added to a substance to raise its temperature. Metals have a much lower heat of vaporization than water, so even a smaller heat source raises their temperature rapidly. This makes water very useful for evaporative cooling as the vapor can contain a lot of heat energy. When the sweat evaporates, the rising vapor is hotter than the sweat remaining on the skin, so the person feels cooler.

Panting 

• Dogs have sweat glands, although they do not have enough sweat glands to cool themselves with sweat alone. They must pant to take advantage of evaporative air cooler. A dog sticks out its tongue into the air, allowing the saliva on its tongue to evaporate. When the saliva evaporates, it cools the dog down. Putting a muzzle on a dog risks overheating the dog if it cannot stick its tongue out.

Evaporative Air cooler Pads

• Evaporative air cooler pads are a method of adding air conditioning to a building. A machine is set up that pulls in air from the outside of the building, using a fan. The air is blown across a wet pad that is continually soaked in a stream of water. The pads are often made of substances similar to paper. As water evaporates from the pads, the vapor is blown back outside by the fan.

                                                                                  

Evaporative air cooler

Hot Drinks

• Evaporative cooling takes place in hot drinks. The liquid in a cup of tea is mostly water. After the tea is poured out of the teapot, it evaporates and takes some of the heat energy with it. As with the other examples, the water molecules that are leaving as hot vapor contain more heat energy than the water molecules that remain behind in the teacup.

Wind

• Wind strength and humidity affect the evaporative cooling rate. Air that is already humid contains lots of water vapor already, so sweat does not evaporate as quickly and it will feel hotter to a person. Dry air allows more evaporation, so a high temperature in a hot desert may feel more comfortable than the same temperature in a wet swamp. According to Montana University, water sources, such as lakes and swamps, often have a layer of water vapor over them. Strong winds will blow this vapor layer away, increasing the evaporation rate of the lake or swamp.

    

How to Repair Evaporative Air Cooler

    Evaporative air cooler work very well in hot dry climates such as the desert Southwest. They are less expensive than air conditioners and cost less to operate. However, evaporative air cooler do require more maintenance than air conditioners. Fortunately, very little technical expertise or skill with tools is required to keep an evaporative air cooler operating at peak efficiency. Trouble shooting an evaporative air cooler is a simple matter of identifying one of several problems. An evaporative air cooler has three main components: the water pump supplies water to the cooler pads to cool the air and the fan motor distributes the cooled air throughout the house.

   Use a flashlight to check the fuse or breaker box if the cooler does not start or does not blow air. If the fuse is tripped or blown, either reset or replace it as necessary.

   Determine where the problem lies if the air is not cool. If the air is warm, check the water pump to be sure water is circulating to the filters. Examine the filter pads to see if they are scaled over with mineral deposits, which inhibit the flow of air. Finally, check the water reservoir to be certain the float is keeping the water at the proper level to supply the pump.

   Examine the fan motor if the cooler is not blowing air. If it is not running, the motor may need service or replacement . Also, examine the fan belt to determine if it is broken and needs replacement. The belt could also be too loose to turn the fan blades properly; the belt should be able to be depressed about an inch when it is pressed down upon with a finger about midway between the motor pulley and the fan blade pulley. If it is too loose, it will need to be tightened or even replaced if it is worn out.

   Drain the water reservoir and scrub it thoroughly with a stiff brush and a solution of one cup of vinegar to one gallon of water. Also, check the filter pads to determine if they are scaled over with mineral deposits.

How to Clean an Evaporative Air Cooler

    If you live in a hot, dry climate you know how important it is to keep your home cool in the summer. Evaporative air cooler, also known as desert coolers, lower the air temperature by blowing hot outside air over water. Cleaning the unit will keep bacteria and mold from growing inside it and infecting your home.

    Instructions

    ·  1  Turn off the power to the unit. Remove the unit's covers and open the drain valve.

    ·  2  Remove the filters and hose them off to clean them. Hose off all the waterways in the system. Run water through the bleed-off system and the sump.

    ·  3  Place the filters in the unit. Close the drain valve and open the water inlet valve Turn the unit back on.

    ·  4  Isolate the fan to only run inside the unit and not into your home. Make sure the pump is still running. Add 1/4 cup of bleach for every gallon of water in the unit.

    ·  5  Allow the unit to run for 30 minutes to disinfect it. Pour out the water and fill it with fresh water. Run the unit for 5 more minutes and replace the water again. The fan back on to your home.

How to install evaporative air cooler

   Install an evaporative air cooler, so known as an desert cooler or swamp cooler, in your home to provide an energy-efficient cooling system. This type of system draws hot air from outside and cools it to a comfortable temperature. Then the evaporative air cooler pushes the air into the house. You can buy a regular system or a portable window system to install in your home.

   Purchase a system of the size you need to cool the room. Calculate the volume of the room in cubic feet by multiplying its square footage by the height of the ceiling. Then divide this sum by 2. The result is the cubic feet per minute of air that the evaporative air cooler has to blow out. Choose a machine that gives the air flow rate you need. For example, if the room is 1,200 square feet and you have 10-foot ceilings, multiply 1,200 to 10 to get 12,000 cubic feet. Divide 12,000 by 2 to get 6,000. You require a system that has an air flow rate of 6,000 cubic feet per minute.

   Set up the evaporative air cooler against the wall. It can be placed on the ground, mounted to the wall with support brackets or secured to the roof of your home. Create a hole in the wall using a jigsaw to cut through aluminum siding and wood, or a masonry boring tool to cut through brick or stone.

   Attach the duct work to the system. In installing the pipes, run as many as possible straight to provide efficient air flow. Place a minimum of 2 elbow pipes on the line run. Join the pipes with sheet metal screws. Attach the duct work with vent collars between studs and joists. Install an outlet grille in the wall or ceiling.

   Secure the water line of the evaporative cooler to the water tap line in the house. Seal around the duct leading outside with foam insulation. Run the electrical cord through the nearest window and plug it into a regular outlet. Open windows before operating the evaporative air cooler system.

The Natural and Cool Breeze of an Evaporative Air Cooler

    Have you ever tried standing on a beach while waves are crashing into shore? Or perhaps standing next to a crashing waterfall?  If you have experiences this already or can imagine doing so, then you know that this is the best way to cool off.  Nothing beats a natural cool.
    It is pity! Most air cooler units in the market today produce very artificial cooling, very far from being natural.These types of systems usually employ chemical compounds to produce cool air.These compounds are actually very harmful to nature.But there is one kind of cooling system that is so natural that it is comparable to the misty crash of waves and waterfalls. These cooling units are called evaporative air cooler.
   If you want a natural and fresh cool in your space, it is best to choose for an evaporative air cooler. Not only do evaporative air cooler give out a natural cool to an area, they also run with an environment-friendly system.  This combination makes this cooling system the perfect air conditioning unit for any nature lover. Not only will you feel comfortable with a natural and cool breeze, you are also aiding nature at the same time.
   An evaporative air cooler works in a very easy way. It mainly projects cool water vapours to cool a surrounding area.  Depending on your area’s conditions, you can opt for direct or indirect evaporative air cooler.There are different types of evaporative systems so anyone can get a unit, regardless of the space they can spare or their areas conditions.
   The evaporative air cooler is a great choice for everyone when it comes to space cooling. The best kind of cool is a natural one. Evaporative systems can give you this kind of cool, and at the same time, help you keep your planet alive.

How to choose the right evaporative air cooler

   Evaporative air coolers offer a lot of benefits aside from cooling and humidifying air. These include cleaner air, more energy savings, and less money spent compared to trad air conditioners. However, you wouldn’t be able to enjoy these advantages if you make the wrong decision when buying an evaporative air cooler.
   You have to choose the right air cooler carefully, lest you end up regretting your purchase later. Learn from the mistakes consumers usually commit when buying evaporative air coolers. For sure, these mistakes will give you an idea of what to look for as you check out every cooler on the catalogue.
   Mistakes Choosing an Evaporative Cooler
   1.Picking the wrong size of cooler. Different coolers are created to suit different sizes of rooms or space. If your evaporative air cooler is way smaller than what is required of your room size, then its cooling effect may not be adequate. CFM ratings are an important consideration when choosing the right size of cooler for your room or home. The safest bet is to get any evaporative air cooler that is bigger than what your room needs.
   2.Inadequate exhaust ducts. An Evaporative air cooler that lacks exhaust ducts may not perform as efficiently as another that has a good duct system for the exhaust. If your room does not have sufficient space for good airflow, then you must look for a cooler with an efficient duct system that allows warm air to be flushed out of the room.
   3.Buying the wrong type of evaporative air cooler. Evaporative air cooler suits only dry climates where humidity is low. If you live in a very humid place, your evaporative air cooler may not work as effectively as it does in dry areas. Using an evaporative air cooler in a humid area causes only a small amount of water to evaporate, so the evaproative cooling ability may be poor. Also, higher humidity level speeds up corrosion, which in turn causes the parts of the evaporative air cooler to deteriorate.

Evaporative air Cooler: Finding the Right One for You

   Evaporative air coolers are great options for your cooling needs. They consume a lot less energy as compared to a conventional air conditioning system. They also use little to no chemicals in  their cooling process, making them a lot safer for people. Also,they are very environment-friendly. You can choose from many different types of evaporative air cooling systems as a lot are made available for everyone in the market. But the reason there are many different types of evaporative coolers is because different coolers fit different situations.  One evaporative air cooler maybe effective in one area but can be damaging in another.
   In order to find the right evaporative air cooler for you, you have to take several things into consideration.One important thing is to find out what kind of place the evaporative air cooler will be serving. Another is to know what types of people are living or working in the area to be cooled.
  First, it is important to know what kind of place the evaporative air cooler will be servicing.  If the area will contain materials that are sensitive to water vapour or humidity, it is best to fit for a system that is not a big contributor to the two.  Most evaporative air coolers contribute a lot of humidity, but one in particular works well with humidity-sensitive environments? a two-stage evaporative air cooler.
  Another thing to note is the sensitivity of the people working or living in the area to be cooled. Most evaporative air coolerg systems don’t have filters. But filters can be easily fit into them if needed.  If the people in the area to be cooled are sensitive to allergens, it is best to put a filter in the system.  This will not only keep them safe, it will also greatly improve the quality of air in the said area.

The kinds of evaporative air coolers

    There are two kinds of evaporative air coolers.The first type is called the direct cooler.Direct here means that the ventilation comes into direct contact with the water.This is done by airwind pressuring moisture off of a water pad, or through fan misting.The second type of evaporative air cooler is called the indirect cooler.Here, a heat exchanger is used for cooling transfer to the ventilation. This makes it unnecessary for the ventilation to be in direct contact with the water.


evaporative air cooler

       Evaporative air coolers like these are very common in the South.But relying on your climate, you might prefer one type of evaporative air cooler over the other. The direct cooler contributes quite to humidity.This is great for low humidity areas like highly-elevated locations or areas surrounded by desert.This is not so good for already-humid areas like hot coastal places.In this areas,an indirect cooler will be better.Whatever your space is like,there is an evaporative air cooler perfect for you.