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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

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