What Is An Evaporative Cooler Or Swamp Cooler

In rural areas, where electricity is a scarce, people use innovative methods to beat the heat. One such method is to sleep outside, with wet bed sheets strung like curtains from a pole. What happens is that the hot air passes through the sheets absorbing the moisture and in the process becoming cool. Fanning with a handheld fan distributes it across the entire area. This is the theory that governs the workings of an evaporative cooler, albeit in a far more refined way. That is to use dry air to absorb the moisture from the water and thus cool it. Since, the drier the air the most moisture it will absorb, evaporative cooler is very effective in desert regions. And it is a best, low cost, low technology alternative to the more common and popular air conditioner. To know more go through the article below for information on evaporative cooler or swamp cooler.

Evaporative Or Swamp Cooler

How It Works?

The evaporative cooler cools the air around by the natural process of water evaporation in simple air moving system.
The air from the outside is sucked inside and cooled by the moist pads through evaporation and is then circulated outside by a large blower.
This makes it very effective in lowering the temperature of the outside air by as much as 30 degrees.
They are also known as swamp coolers because they add moisture to the air and blow it around.
However, these coolers are less effective in high humidity. It works best when the air is dry, like a desert-like environment.
The main mechanism of its working is that dry air absorbs some water, and the heat of the air evaporates the water, thereby making the air cooler.

The Mechanism Of An Evaporative Cooler

The cooler consists of a large fan and water moistened pads. The pads are positioned in front of the fan.
The fan sucks the warm air through the pads and then blows out the cooled air through the house.
The pads are made of absorbent materials that can hold the moisture without developing mildew growth.
The most common material is the wood shavings of aspen trees. These pads must be replaced every season.
The pads are connected with small lines to supply the water at the top of the pad. The pad soaks in the water and trickles down to a sump in the bottom, which is then sent to the top by a small water pump.

Advantages Of Evaporative Cooling

These types of coolers use as much as 75% less electricity than an air conditioner. So, it is more energy efficient and can result in huge savings especially in hot desert climates.
It is also very cost effective as the technology is very simple though the installation costs are nearly the same as air conditioning units.
Unlike air conditioners, evaporative coolers do not require high amperage circuits as they operate on 120-volt electricity. It can be plugged into any household outlet.
The moist pads are also very good air filters, which can effectively trap dust and pollen. They are also very inexpensive as compared to the filters of air conditioners.
The evaporative coolers add moisture to the house, which can keep the wood furniture and fabrics from drying out.
It does not require extensive ductwork like air conditioners to distribute the air. Smaller units can be placed on the window with very little installation.

Disadvantages Of Evaporative Cooling

Evaporative cooling depends on the dry outside air to work effectively. It is of very little use if the humidity is high.
The moisture pads must be kept moist with water. This can be a problem in desert areas where the cooler works best.
Due to ineffective filtering system, outdoor contaminants may be blown into the house.

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