Evaporative cooling

Adiabatic evaporative cooling involves the evaporation of water that receives heat from the air and lowers the ambient temperature. The process takes place in a natural way and is made possible by the capacity of air to absorb water vapour, which is increased when the air is warm and humidity is less than 60%. But how does a cooler differ from an air conditioner? While the air conditioner makes the air pass through a heat exchanger and uses refrigerant gases, the cooler is based on a law of physics and does not use either compressors or refrigerants and is, therefore, an ecological system. Evolved and effective, the cost of running this device is minimal particularly with regard to energy, since electricity is required only for operation of the fan. The exchange between water and air occurs in evaporative cooling pads with a high saturation capacity. The pads are kept wet by a system of pumps and are equipped with a fan, inside the cooler, which makes the air pass through the cavities. The air comes out fresh and purified.

The fan in the cooler allows for multiple exchanges of air and represents an effective system even when windows and doors are closed. With these devices, it is possible to guarantee greater comfort and productivity in barns, greenhouses, offices and buildings (even large ones). As they are ecological, they have no impact on the environment and are available at low cost. Of the many benefits of adiabatic evaporative cooling, it is worth mentioning the possibility of programming frequent air changes to keep the environment fresh and clean, and the ease of maintenance. Another advantage is that, by using cooling pads instead of nebulisers, the coolers do not make the environment humid. The machine, installed inside the building, allows for differentiated evaporative cooling according to area and eliminates heat stress which can cause considerable damage to production. In greenhouses, for example, uncontrolled heat can hinder plant growth, while in barns for livestock this can decrease the conversion of feed into meat and, in many cases, can be fatal for the resources. On broiler farms, the adiabatic cooler can be integrated with tunnel ventilation: in this way, the temperature is lowered both through evaporation and with fresh air generated by tunnel ventilation.

In order to ensure adiabatic cooling in line with requirements, it is essential to size the equipment in relation to the volume of the area concerned. Evaporative pads of a power and size suited to the size of the premises must be installed to permit maximum efficiency. Gigola & Riccardi S.p.A., a leading exponent of adiabatic evaporative cooling and ventilation, assists its customers during the design phase (and, therefore, the process of sizing the system) and offers an after sales service. Backed by many decades of experience and the expertise of its highly qualified work force, the Company manufactures systems with patented cooling pads of various sizes and power ratings. Some adiabatic cooling systems also have darkening properties. The high wear resistance, protection against UV rays and compliance with the Reach standards permit excellent performance and reliability over time.