Heat and mass transfer study in a direct evaporative cooler

705-710This paper presents a simple and efficient methodology to design a household desert cooler, predict performance of evaporative medium and determine pad thickness and height for achieving maximum cooling. Inputs for formulation include inlet air DBT and humidity ratio, air velocity, water temperature and flow rate, and geometrical properties of evaporative medium. A test rig was designed and fabricated to collect experimental data. Predictions of air condition at cooler outlet for given input conditions agree satisfactorily for air exit temperature (+15%) and humidity ratio (+10%). Results are useful for size selection of medium geometry required for an evaporative cooler design