Solar Powered Evaporative Air Cooler: A Study on Effects of Configurations on Water Consumption

Shuaibu Ishaka Mohammad*, Ahmad Uba **, Hassan Yahya Nawawi ***, Mu'azu Musa ****
* Department of Chemistry and Energy Studies, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
** Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
*** Department of Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
**** Department of Mechanical Engineering, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
Periodicity:January - June'2020
DOI : https://doi.org/10.26634/jic.8.1.16859

Abstract

Water consumption of a solar powered evaporative air cooler constructed using locally available materials such as galvanized iron, thin wooden strips, car radiator fan and submersible water pump of low power types has been 3 experimentally investigated while cooling a room space of approximately a volume of 43.5 m . Test results on the cooler 3 configurations indicated the water consumption ranging from 6400-14400 cm , the period it takes to refill the water tank ranging from 10-22.5 hours, temperature drop ranging from 4.6-7.2 °C while the cooling effectiveness calculated has been between 35.4%-97.3%. In this work, humidity and temperature control unit has been integrated to control water supply thereby regulating the humidity level of the room space while cooling. This system consumes 0.05 kWh of energy for 6 hours of operation as against 6.75 kWh energy consumption of a 1.5 HP AC. This technology is efficient in improving the indoor air quality and it is suitable for cooling application in villages, and other remote areas where there is no grid extension.

Keywords

Solar Powered Evaporative Cooler, Water Consumption, Energy Consumption, 1.5 HP AC.

How to Cite this Article?

Mohammad, S. I., Uba, A., Nawawi, H. Y., and Musa, M. (2020). Solar Powered Evaporative Air Cooler: A Study on Effects of Configurations on Water Consumption. i-manager's Journal on Instrumentation and Control Engineering, 8(1), 7-13. https://doi.org/10.26634/jic.8.1.16859

References

[1]. Delfani, S., Esmaeelian, J., Pasdarshahri, H., & Karami, M. (2010). Energy saving potential of an indirect evaporative cooler as a pre-cooling unit for mechanical cooling systems in Iran. Energy and Buildings, 42(11), 2169- 2176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2010.07.009
[2]. Dodoo, A., Gustavsson, L., & Sathre, R. (2011). Building energy-efficiency standards in a life cycle primary energy perspective. Energy and Buildings, 43(7), 1589-1597. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2011.03.002
[3]. Eaton, E., Sanchez, J., Stone, L., & Weis, C. (2007). Photovoltaics–Design and Installation Manual. Solar Energy International.
[4]. Effatnejad, R., & Salehian, A. B. (2009). Standard of energy consumption and energy labeling in evaporative air cooler in Iran. International Journal on Technical and Physical Problems of Engineering (IJTPE) Transaction on Power Engineering, 1(1), 54-57.
[5]. Elmetenani, S., Yousfi, M. L., Merabeti, L., Belgroun, Z., & Chikouche, A. (2011). Investigation of an evaporative air cooler using solar energy under Algerian climate. Energy Procedia, 6, 573-582. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. egypro.2011.05.066
[6]. Finocchiaro, P., Beccali, M., & Nocke, B. (2012). Advanced solar assisted desiccant and evaporative cooling system equipped with wet heat exchangers. Solar Energy, 86(1), 608-618. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. solener.2011.11.003
[7]. Gorle, W., Khelkar, A. R., Bhoyar, A. S., & Muley, A. S. (2016). Solar powered evaporative air cooler with cooling cabin for household food items. IOSR Journal of Mechanical and Civil Engineering (IOSRJMCE), 13(2), 53-56.
[8]. Harris, N. C. (1987). Modern air conditioning practice rd (3 ed.,) ( pp. 57-61). New York: McGrawHill.
[9]. Heidarinejad, G., Khalajzadeh, V., & Delfani, S. (2010). Performance analysis of a ground-assisted direct evaporative cooling air conditioner. Building and Environment, 45(11), 2421-2429. https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.buildenv.2010.05.009
[10]. Jaber, S., & Ajib, S. (2011). Evaporative cooling as an efficient system in Mediterranean region. Applied Thermal Engineering, 31(14-15), 2590-2596. https://doi. org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2011.04.026
[11]. Joudi, K. A., & Mehdi, S. M. (2000). Application of indirect evaporative cooling to variable domestic cooling load. Energy Conversion and Management, 41(17), 1931-1951. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0196-8904 (00)00004-2
[12]. Khurmi, R. S., & Gupta, J. K. (2006). A Textbook of refrigeration and air conditioning (1st ed., pp. 320-431). New Delhi: Eurasia Publishers.
[13]. Khurmi, R. S., & Gupta, J. K. (2008). A textbook of machine design (16th ed., pp.421-576). New Delhi: S.Chand Publishers.
[14]. Kim, M. H., Choi, A. S., & Jeong, J. W. (2012). Energy performance of an evaporative cooler assisted 100% outdoor air system in the heating season operation. Energy and Buildings, 49, 402-409. https://doi.org/10. 1016/j.enbuild.2012.02.036
[15]. Krüger, E., Cruz, E. G., & Givoni, B. (2010). Effectiveness of indirect evaporative cooling and thermal mass in a hot arid climate. Building and Environment, 45(6), 1422-1433. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv. 2009.12.005
[16]. Shuaibu, I. M., Musa, M., Nawawi, H. Y., Uba, A., Mohammad, A., & Adamu, S. S. (2019). Design, construction and performance comparison of indoor and outdoor configuration of a solar powered evaporative air cooler. Conbatoir Institute of Information Technology (CiiT) Programmable Device Circuits and Systems, 11(6), 89-99.
[17]. Shuaibu, I. M., Musa, M., Nawawi, H. Y., Uba, A., Mohammad, A., Adamu, S. S., & Peni, I. T. (2019). Design and construction of a solar powered evaporative air cooler. Global Scientific Journal (GSJ), 7(6), 930-937.
[18]. Thakur, B. C. & Dhingra, D. P. (1983). Parameters influencing the saturation efficiency of an evaporative rusten cooler. University of Glasgow College of Agriculture Bulletin (pp. 9-19).
[19]. Wu, J. M., Huang, X., & Zhang, H. (2009). Numerical investigation on the heat and mass transfer in a direct evaporative cooler. Applied Thermal Engineering, 29(1), 195-201. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.200 8.02.018
[20]. Zakari, M. D., Abubakar, Y. S., Muhammad, Y. B., Shanono, N. J., Nasidi, N. M., Abubakar, M. S., ... Ahmad, R. K. (2006). Design and construction of an evaporative cooling system for the storage of fresh tomato. ARPN Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 11(4), 2340-2348.
If you have access to this article please login to view the article or kindly login to purchase the article

Purchase Instant Access

Single Article

North Americas,UK,
Middle East,Europe
India Rest of world
USD EUR INR USD-ROW
Online 200 35 35 200 15
Pdf 35 35 200 20
Pdf & Online 35 35 400 25

Options for accessing this content:
  • If you would like institutional access to this content, please recommend the title to your librarian.
    Library Recommendation Form
  • If you already have i-manager's user account: Login above and proceed to purchase the article.
  • New Users: Please register, then proceed to purchase the article.