Why evaporative coolers are ideal in hot weather

Preventing heat from building up inside factories, aircraft hangars, logistic centres and other workspaces can be difficult, especially at the peak of summer when outdoor temperatures are high and the sun is beating down.

While natural ventilation and conventional air-conditioning units are often viewed as the go-to solution to cool the air, these are only practical in smaller, enclosed spaces.

Evaporative cooling units, on the other hand, are a flexible, efficient and cost-effective alternative that is ideal for use in larger facilities during the hot summer months.

How do evaporative coolers work?

Evaporative coolers harness completely natural processes to deliver vast amounts of cooling to hot and uncomfortable spaces.

Warm air is drawn in from outside the unit and passed through damp cooling pads. When this happens, some of the moisture inside these membranes is evaporated, along with much of the incoming heat.

After the incoming air is cooled, it is then circulated indoors, preventing temperatures inside from rising to uncomfortable or dangerous levels.

As air constantly flows through the device, and moisture is continually dissipated, an integral water pump keeps the cooler pads damp via an internal water supply.

The principle behind this natural process is the same reason people feel cold after stepping out of a pool, and why sweat helps keep athletes cool when playing sports.

Why are evaporative coolers ideal for keeping temperatures down on hot days?

Simply put, the warmer the conditions outside, the more energy-efficient an evaporative cooler is and the greater the temperature drop a unit can create.

Another element that can impact evaporative cooling performance is relative humidity. As a rule of thumb, moist air limits a unit’s capabilities while dry air enhances it.

While this is the general rule of thumb for evaporative coolers, at Master we have conducted a significant amount of R&D on our units’ cooling pads to ensure that they function effectively in both dry and humid climates. Through this advanced technology, our solutions have delivered efficient, positive results for customers across Europe and worldwide.

Besides being more effective on hotter, drier days, evaporative cooling technology is ideal for use in the summer months because it also delivers a number of unique advantages. Some of these include:

High energy efficiency

By harnessing the natural power of evaporation, this technology only requires a relatively small amount of electricity to function effectively and rid the indoor air of excess heat, even in hot temperatures.

Beyond reducing energy usage and trimming overhead costs related to cooling, the raw efficiency of this technology can also help limit an enterprise’s impact on the environment.

Low cost of ownership

As well as helping to reduce the amount of electricity used, evaporative coolers lack many complicated and expensive moving parts. This helps keep the overall cost of ownership lower than other alternative cooling solutions.

The simple construction not only benefits the reliability of these units, but it also means maintenance is quicker, more cost-effective and occurs less often. Plus, while fixed unit installation is straightforward, portable coolers are plug-and-play, further reducing these immediate costs.

Minimal impact on the environment

Evaporative coolers are also incredibly eco-friendly. As well as being highly energy-efficient, this technology does not require the use of chemical refrigerants, meaning the only byproducts of cooling are water vapour.

As regulations tighten, and customers become increasingly aware of the world around them and their impact on it, adopting greener systems can help businesses future proof their operations and bolster their reputation.

Why evaporative coolers outperform air-conditioning

While many of the perks of evaporative cooling centre on efficiency and cost-saving, this technology also has several advantages over conventional air-conditioning units.

Where can evaporative cooling systems work effectively?

Master’s range of evaporative coolers is designed to work in heavy-duty environments, such as foundries and military installations. As a result, units can work effectively in conditions as hot as 55°C.

This makes the technology ideally suited to a wide variety of applications in countries and climates throughout the world, such as:

• Aircraft hangars

• Factories

• Warehouses

• Logistic centres

• Foundries

• Industrial bakeries

• And more…

Wherever they are applied, the powerful cooling potential offered by evaporative cooling ensures that people inside are kept comfortable, unthreatened from heat-related illnesses, and are in conditions that enable them to work as productively as possible.

Choosing the right evaporative cooler for your needs

Although every evaporative cooler harnesses the fundamental power of water evaporation, these units can come in a variety of different sizes and shapes.

To ensure you select a unit that can meet the precise demands of your space, it is important to first decide between a portable and fixed unit.

Portable evaporative coolers

Portable evaporative cooling units are smaller devices that can be easily transported to provide spot cooling to a specific segment of a room, instead of the entire space. Despite their compact size, these devices can deliver plenty of cool air across a moderately sized area.

As well as being lighter and more mobile than fixed coolers, this type of unit requires little to no set-up, allowing organisations to immediately deliver indoor cooling as soon as the onboard water tank is filled.

Portable solutions are ideal in scenarios where teams are always on the move or in environments where specific machines need a constant source of cool air. Construction sites or automated factories may be common homes for these units.

Fixed evaporative coolers

Fixed evaporative cooling units are large, static devices that must be manually installed on top of buildings. This technology is designed specifically to regulate the temperatures inside large facilities and is capable of delivering a large volume of air flow.

Because fixed coolers are attached to the exterior of buildings, they are able to duct cool air inside while also renewing air quality at the same time. To keep pollutants and dirt out, filters are also often fitted on these systems.

Fixed solutions are optimally suited to spaces where everything inside has to be cooled down. This could include poorly insulated warehouses full of workers, or facilities that use hot ovens throughout the manufacturing process, such as industrial bakeries.

Selecting an appropriate size

As well as the form factor of choice, the size of the unit is another crucial decision to make when seeking a solution that can deliver the right amount of cooling to your environment.

Are evaporative coolers a good choice?

By taking advantage of the natural process of desiccation, evaporative coolers are an effective alternative to air-conditioning that only becomes more efficient as temperatures increase.

Beyond pure energy efficiency, these units can also provide a great deal of cooling in a wide variety of medium to large spaces, all while minimising the environmental impact of operations.

For these reasons, evaporative cooling units are the solution of choice when compared with other conventional technologies, such as air-conditioning.

Talk to the experts at Master

As a leading name in the world of portable, reliable, sustainable and efficient evaporative cooling units, Master has designed, built and delivered numerous solutions to organisations all over the world – from the humid shores of Spain to the driest parts of the Middle East.

As well as utilising the highest quality materials and incorporating cutting-edge technology across our lineup of evaporative coolers, we also offer a 3-year limited warranty for every purchase.

If you want to learn more about the benefits that Master’s range can provide for your workspace, get in touch with our team today.