Evaporative Cooling

Evaporative coolers are devices that cool air through the simple evaporation of water. They differ from refrigeration or absorption air conditioning, which use the vapor-compression or absorption refrigeration cycles.

Evaporative cooling is especially well suited for climates where the air is hot and humidity is low.

In moderate humidity locations there are many cost-effective uses for evaporative cooling, in addition to their widespread use in dry climates. For example, industrial plants, commercial kitchens, laundries, dry cleaners, greenhouses, spot cooling (loading docks, warehouses, factories, construction sites, athletic events, workshops, garages, and kennels) and confinement farming (poultry ranches, hog, and dairy) all often employ evaporative cooling. In highly humid climates, evaporative cooling may have little thermal comfort benefit beyond the increased ventilation and air movement it provides.

Comparison of Evaporative cooling to phase-change air conditioning:

Advantages

Less expensive to install

Less expensive to operate

Ventilation air

Disadvantages

Performance

Comfort