Applying a Domestic Water-cooled Air-conditioner in Subtropical Cities

Water-cooled air-conditioning systems (WACS) are in general more energy efficient than air-cooled air-conditioning systems (AACS), especially in subtropical climates where the outdoor air is hot and humid. Related studies focused on evaluating the energy and environmental benefits of WACS over AACS applying to commercial buildings with central air-conditioning. This paper presents an experimental study on the performance of a 3.36 kW prototype water-cooled air conditioner. The prototype is a self-assembled unit. The results show that by the use of water-cooled air-conditioner, the energy performance can be considerably improved. The study provides useful information for the wider use of WACS in residential buildings located in the hot and humid regions