Air coolers, like the PAE series air coolers from Trotec, are economical in purchasing and in energy consumption, and are fast and easy to install. And they don’t require a hot air exhaust hose, as they don’t generate any hot air. However, Air coolers don’t produce “real cold air”, but rather remove the so-called “sensible heat” from the air – which can effect a temperature difference of 2 to 4 °C in the room. But how does it work and how efficient do they really are?
For many users, a gentle cooling of a few degrees is sufficient to feel more comfortable. For these users and for all who want to get through the summer with an entirely natural – that is, without external energy demand – and cost-effective cooling method, air coolers are a well received alternative to conventional air conditioning units.
Air coolers operate under the principle of “adiabatic cooling”
Direct air coolers, like the air coolers of the PAE series, require no compressor-powered cooling system, but rather cool the room air by means of the natural principle of water evaporation, adiabatic cooling. A cooling effect with which we are all very familiar – for example from sweat evaporation or the cooler air around rivers and seas. But to evaporate, water requires energy, which is taken from the environmental air in the form of heat, which makes the air cooler. Now, energy stored in our room air in tangible, so-called “sensible heat” must be differentiated from “latent” heat. Only sensible heat is relevant to temperature and can therefore be measured by thermometer. Because it is precisely this heat that is consumed in evaporation and then stored in the water vapour in the air as latent energy, adiabatic cooling with air coolers is an entirely natural and cost-effective cooling method.
Air coolers are efficient – under certain conditions
- Practically all air coolers obtained for personal use operate by direct cooling – that is, they supply moisture directly to the supply air by means of water evaporation. On the one hand, this makes the devices very easy to use, since they must only be installed and turned on, but on the other hand they increase the humidity in the room.
- Generally, temperature differences of 2 – 4 °C can be achieved in small rooms with mobile air coolers without the humidity in the room becoming uncomfortably high.
- The degree of effectiveness of the air coolers depends on the blowing power and the surface of the evaporation filter. If the humidity in the room increases perceptibly, the cooling power of the devices decreases due to the nature of the process.
- The cooling efficiency of air coolers is directly dependent on the general weather conditions. Air coolers achieve their highest degree of effectiveness if the air is hot and dry. When the weather is extremely hot and humid, cooling power cannot be achieved due to the nature of the process. This applies to all air coolers on the market, even if offers from competitors suggest otherwise.
PAE series air coolers – if air coolers, choose these!
Whether an air cooler is the right choice depends on the intended application, usage behaviour, personal demand and last but not least on your individual willingness to invest. If you are considering such a system though, you should take advantage of the ideal price-performance ratio of a leading market provider. Find out about our selection of air coolers today. Our recommendation if the PAE 25 – now in the Trotec shop.
