An evaporative cooler is an air cooling system known as a cost-effective and energy-efficient alternative to air conditioners. It efficiently provides cool air in dry-climate areas.
The idea behind an evaporative cooler is quite simple: air that passes by the water causes the latter to evaporate. It is the same principle that applies to the human body. The temperature of the body decreases and the body feels cooler after the evaporation of sweat. Also called desert or swamp cooler in America, an evaporative air cooler is basically a big fan with damp filter pads in front of it. Warm air from outside is drawn to the fan through the pads, which filter out impurities from the passing air. The air becomes cooler and its temperature drops by about 20 degrees because the water has evaporated within the filter pads. Then the fan blows the cooler air throughout the space where the evaporative cooler is located. The air that comes out of the evaporative air cooler has high moisture content.
Evaporative Coolers – Working Diagram
Evaporative coolers are preferred over air conditioners because they result in more energy savings. This is because evaporative coolers consume less energy than air conditioners, which need at least four times more energy. Also, evaporative coolers use the natural evaporation process to cool air as opposed to the high amount of electricity needed to make an air conditioning unit run.
Aside from energy consumption, evaporative coolers and air conditioners also differ in terms of how they are used. For optimum air cooling, air conditioning requires a closed space, so doors and windows are usually closed while an air conditioner is on. In contrast, evaporative cooling needs ventilation so that the cooled air can escape. So, to make the air in a room cooler, the windows must be left open when using evaporative coolers.
