Evaporative air-conditioning (EAC) is an environmentally friendly and energy efficient cooling method that only uses water as the working fluid. EAC provides superior indoor air quality over vapor-compression systems since 100% outdoor air is used. The use of EAC instead of vapor-compression systems also helps reduce global CO2, CFC and other greenhouse gas emissions.

Evaporative cooling technologies are growing worldwide, although they are still widely underutilized. Through EAC, superior cooling and ventilation can be provided with minimal energy consumption. EAC in the southeast has been used effectively as relief cooling for commercial and industrial applications such as greenhouses, buses, laundries, warehouses, manufacturing facilities, kitchens and poultry houses.

Evaporative air conditioning is the cooling effect provided by the adiabatic evaporation of water. Water is a universal coolant and the working fluid that can meet many air conditioning needs. Two principle methods of EAC are commonly used. The first is direct cooling, in which water evaporates directly into the airstream, thus reducing the air’s dry bulb temperature while humidifying the air. The second indirect cooling, where primary air is cooled sensibly with a heat exchanger, while the secondary air carries away the heat energy from the primary air as generated vapor.