Evaluation of the performance of evaporative coolers using Luffa pads (Direct Evaporation)

Abstract

High energy demand associated to the massive use of air conditioning systems requires careful consideration of passive cooling strategies, with evaporative cooling being recognized as a useful possibility for that purpose. One important factor that influences the performance of evaporative cooling systems is the media material that supports water evaporation process (cooling pad). As a result a lot of research is being carried out to determine the performance of the cooling pads experimentally. The major purpose of the study was to evaluate the performances of using Luffa (local natural fibers Type) to be used as wetted pads in direct evaporative cooling. The tests were carried out at two levels of air velocity (4 m/s and 8 m/s) and two levels of pad thickness (40 mm and 80 mm). According to the results of this study, it can be stated that the average maximum saturation efficiency is highest for Luffa at 95.1%, compared to 90% for the reference commercial pad. The results show that there are a negative relationship between the cooling efficiency and the air velocity and a positive one with the pad thickness change.