Experimental and analytical study of the energy and exergy performance for different evaporative pads in hot and dry climate
Munther Abdullah Mussa, Issam M. Ali Aljubury, Wail Sami Sarsam
Abstract
In this study, the effects of using different evaporative cooling pads (ECPs) on the energetic and exergetic efficiency of a direct evaporative air cooler (DEAC) have been theoretically and experimentally investigated. Three types of ECPs were used: honeycomb cellulose cooler pad (HCCP), shading-cloth cooler pad (SCCP), and aspen wood wool cooler pad (AWWCP). For SCCP and AWWCP, a pad thickness of 3 cm was employed, while for HCCP, three different pad thickness values were utilized: 3, 5, and 7 cm. Tests were carried out using air velocities of 8, 14, and 19 m/s, measured at the DEAC outlet. The Engineering Equation Solver (EES) was used to perform the required calculations for various parameters affecting the thermal performance of the DEAC. These parameters include dry bulb temperature at the exit (Tdbo), relative humidity at the exit (RHo), mass of water evaporated, saturation efficiency, energetic efficiency (ηen), exergetic efficiency (ηex), and overall exergetic efficiency (ηexoverall). The results demonstrated the remarkable effectiveness of HCCP in comparison to the other types under study. HCCP exhibited the highest energetic efficiency, reaching 103 % with a 3 cm thickness of the ECP, and showcased the highest exergetic efficiency, approximately 19 %. Additionally, it achieved the greatest temperature difference, amounting to 10.3 °C.