RECENT RESEARCHES IN INDIRECT EVAPORATIVE COOLER V - RELATIVE THERMALPERFORMANCE OF BUILDINGS COUPLED TO DIRECT AND INDIRECT EVAPORATIVE COOLER

A mathematical model has been developed to evaluate the relative therm al performance of a building coupled with an indirect or direct evapor ative cooler. Using periodic analysis for taking into account thermal storage of building envelope, explicit expressions have been obtained for room air temperature and room air humidity. For comparing their pe rformance under different climatic conditions, numerical calculations have been made taking meteorological parameters for a typical day for Delhi (composite climate), Jodhpur (hot-dry climate) and Madras (hot-h umid climate). It is found that the indirect evaporative cooler is a m ore effective and energy efficient system than the air-conditioner; it can hence be commercially used for computer and electronic exchange a pplications as well as for human comfort in a variety of climatic cond itions; whereas direct evaporative cooler has limited use (only in hot -dry and composite climates). (C) 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.