Proposal and month-wise performance evaluation of a novel dual-mode evaporative cooler

Abstract

Three climatic zones (composite, hot-dry, hot-humid) cover most of the regions in India. Direct evaporative cooler is suitable for dry and indirect regenerative evaporative cooler is suitable for humid months. To avoid the use of two different coolers for the same purpose during the composite climate (significant seasonal variations of temperature and humidity), a novel two-in-one evaporative cooler is proposed and numerically investigated in this study. Proposed cooler takes advantage of both types of evaporative cooler and be operated in dual mode: acts as direct evaporative cooler for hot-dry and acts as regenerative indirect evaporative cooler for hot-wet seasons. The working of both modes (direct and regenerative) is explained with the help of a diagram. Effects of channels height and water flow rate on cooling capacity, wet bulb effectiveness, and dew point effectiveness are discussed. The month-wise performance of the proposed cooler is evaluated for five Indian cities (Bhopal, Lucknow and Varanasi of composite climate; Ahmedabad of hot-dry climate; Kolkata of hot-humid climate). Suitability of the modes in hot months (April to September) and cities are evaluated with the help of a psychometric chart. Study reveals that the proposed cooler can be effectively and economically used for composite climate. © 2019, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.