‘Cool’ dragon dance in Singapore - Outdoor event evaporate cooling

The task

On 21 October 2023, The Pho Leng Lion Dance Instruction Centre held their 33^rd Anniversary Celebration Cum Charity Dinner for Various Homes For The Aged in an outdoor open tent roughly the size of a basketball court (28 x 15 metres). The annual event runs for approximately three hours that includes an alfresco dinner with traditional lion dance performance for the visitors who help raise charity funds through their donations.

From experience, the organisers know that the surrounding air in the dining environment is still and stuffy and with expected all time high temperatures this October, they were looking to find a cooling solution for an outdoor event that would be able to circulate cool air in the tent while being simple and quick to set up, moved around and dismantle. Moreover, they also wanted to be able to regulate the fan speed as well as the air flown direction to increase comfort for guests seated near the coolers by shifting the air guides upwards to avoid blowing air directly at them.

As a result of the above, they contacted Climate Solutions Pte Ltd, the experienced Singapore distributor of Dantherm Group air cooling systems.

The weather challenge

Singapore has a tropical climate, characterised by high temperatures and high humidity throughout the year. While the city-state experiences relatively consistent temperatures with minor variations, the climate is influenced by the monsoon winds, resulting in two main seasons: the drier Northeast Monsoon season (December to March) and the wetter Southwest Monsoon (June to September). Across the year, the average temperatures normally lie around 28-32°C and humidity around 75-85%, so the outdoor air is pretty saturated.

The event organisers and guests were very satisfied with the
evaporative coolers as conditions in the tent were comfortable throughout the event despite the soaring outdoor temperature and humidity levels.

Ran Quek, Climate Solutions Pte Ltd, Singapore

Do evaporative coolers work under those circumstances?

While Singapore does have high humidity levels, evaporative coolers, also known as adiabatic or swamp coolers, can still be effective in certain conditions, particularly in outdoor settings. Evaporative coolers utilise the principle of evaporation to cool the air.

Here's how they function:

1. Evaporation process: Evaporative coolers draw warm air through wet pads. As the air passes through the pads, water evaporates into the air. The process removes heat from the air, resulting in cooler air that is then circulated into the surrounding environment.
2. Effective in dry conditions: Evaporative cooling is most effective in dry climates where the air has low humidity. In these conditions, the air can absorb more moisture through evaporation, leading to a more significant cooling effect.
3. Limited effectiveness in high humidity: In areas with high humidity, like Singapore, the air is already saturated with moisture. This limits the ability of the air to take up additional water through evaporation, reducing the cooling effect. However, some level of cooling can still be achieved in outdoor settings where there is constant airflow.
4. Localised cooling: Evaporative coolers are most effective in providing localised cooling in open or semi-open spaces. Therefore, they are often used at outdoor events, open-air markets, or large gatherings where it's impractical and extremely energy-consuming to cool the entire space using traditional air-conditioning. The technology is also suitable for larger buildings, for instance factory halls.

Although evaporative coolers may not be as effective in high humidity compared to dry climates, they can still provide a certain degree of cooling in an outdoor setting. It's important to note that their effectiveness depends on factors like the local climate, the size of the area, and the level of air circulation. In extremely humid conditions, other cooling methods such as air-conditioning might be more suitable although using that technology in open tents significantly increases energy usage.

The solution – and verdict

To ensure enough cooling capacity for the entire tent, the following units were supplied:

1. One Master BC 121 unit placed at the reception and guest registration area
2. Four Master BC 221 units placed in the dining area
3. Two Master BC 341 units placed near the entrance and stage area
4. One Master BCB 19 unit placed in the dining area

The traits of these portable evaporative coolers when applied in open-sided tents like this one include:

Portability: As the name suggests, portable evaporative coolers are designed to be easily moved from one location to another. This makes them convenient for use in open-sided tents or temporary shelters, allowing individuals to position the cooler where it's needed most.

Quick and easy installation, operation and dismantling: Our portable evaporative coolers are pure plug and play. Simply place them where you need cooling, connect to water supply or fill the integrated water tank, connect to power supply and turn them on. Then adjust speed level as required. Simply reverse the process for quick dismantling.

Simple design means minimal maintenance: Evaporative coolers are simple devices with fewer mechanical components than traditional air-conditioners. They typically consist of a fan and a water-saturated pad. This makes them extremely easy to use and maintain, which is often cherished in outdoor settings.

Integrated water tank: The coolers have been equipped with large water tanks for use in areas where constant external water supply is not possible. This enables them to run for hours and makes them an ideal choice for outdoor events.

Humidity regulation: Unlike traditional air-conditioners, evaporative coolers add moisture to the air as part of the cooling process. In dry climates, this can be beneficial as it helps to counteract the drying effect of traditional air-conditioners. In tropical climates where the air is often humid, the cooling effect might still be significant, but the added moisture may not be as noticeable.

Environmentally friendly: Evaporative coolers use natural processes and do not rely on refrigerants, making them more environmentally friendly than traditional air-conditioning units.

Low energy consumption: Evaporative coolers use significantly less energy compared to air-conditioners. They rely on the natural process of evaporation to cool the air, consuming only the energy needed to run the fan and pump water to keep the pads wet. This can be crucial in outdoor environments where access to a stable power supply may be limited.

Healthy, clean air: Unlike traditional air-conditioners that cool and circulate the same air in a room, evaporative coolers always provide fresh outside air that was cooled as it was pulled through the wet pads. Moreover, our evaporative coolers have been fitted with UV light that disinfects the water used for cooling.

Following the event, the feedback from both organisers, staff and visitors was very positive. The evaporative air coolers circulated the air and brought down the temperature inside the tents by providing a soothing and cooler air dining atmosphere.

To learn more about our range of air cooling or event climate control solutions across Dantherm Group, get in touch with our team, or fill out the form below.