Energy-saving potential of an indirect evaporative cooler

In many parts of the world, large differences between the dry-bulb and wet- bulb temperatures during the summer season can be used advantageously to pr e-cool fresh air for air-conditioned space using an indirect evaporative co oler (IEC). This paper presents an analytical evaluation using the field pe rformance results of a 1180 L/s (2500 ft(3)/min) IEC unit and the recorded weather data in coastal and interior locations in Kuwait. Estimated cooling capacity of the IEC is 3.1 and 2.3 tons of refrigeration (RT, 1 RT = 3.517 kW of heat absorption), for the interior and the coastal areas, respective ly. Furthermore, the power requirements of a conventional packaged unit air -conditioner (PU) to produce this cooling in these respective areas are 4.9 3 and 3.85 kW compared with only 1.11 kW needed by the IEC. Also, the seaso nal energy savings of the IEC are 12,418 and 6320 kWh, for the interior and coastal areas, respectively. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights res erved.