| Author(s) | Mohammed A. Alodan* and Abdulelah A. Al-Faraj** |
| Affiliation | *Animal Production Department and **Agricultural Engineering Department, College of Food Sciences and Agriculture, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
| Title | Design and Evaluation of Galvanized Metal Sheets as Evaporative Cooling Pads |
| Source | Journal of King Saud University. Agricultural Sciences. Volume 18, No 1. (2006/1426) |
| Abstract | Evaporative cooling systems using relatively expensive cellulosic paper pads are widely used in residential, commercial and agricultural buildings in Saudi Arabia. However, the fast minerals and dust build up shorten the useful life of these pads. This article describes the design and performance of new alternative non-cellulosic evaporative cooling pads made from galvanized metal sheets. Pad media and top water distribution bath arrangement in the new design differ from other commercially existing evaporative cooling systems. The sheets aligned vertically in a zigzag shape and the gap between the sheets is around 7.5 mm. Water drips from the top distribution bath over the pads through small holes. Outside the air is cooled by evaporating water droplets and moisture retained at the surface of the wetted sheets in the zigzagged air pathways. Performance of three pad’s depths (0.15, 0.30 and 0.45 m) was tested. Each test lasted 24 hours and dry-bulb temperature and relative humidity of outside and conditioned air and reservoir’s water temperatures were scanned and recorded every ten seconds. At the peak outside air dry-bulb temperatures, the averaged cooling efficiencies (η) at the pad depths of 0.15, 0.30 and 0.45 m were 76, 86 and 88%, respectively. |
