Economic evaluation of hybrid evaporative technology implementation in Italy

Evaporative cooling can be adopted in wet areas by integration into HVAC sy stems. Processing 'TRY' data for Italy, the economics of three-stage evapor ative cooling systems were examined. Summertime conventional system operati ng costs and hybrid system savings were evaluated. The method was based on a simplified approach that is not intended as a substitute for accurate dyn amic modelling, but as a simple analysis tool. The results were found to be strongly dependent on: climatic area, internal set point, initial cost of extra equipment. The highest savings appeared to be achieved in the middle- south of Italy. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.