Air cooling through an adiabatic process is more cost-effective and consumes less energy than a Carnot cycle cooling process (traditional conditioning), even in the case of direct expansion.
The adiabatic evaporative cooling system cools the outside air by utilizing the natural process of water evaporation before introducing it into the space, without the use of energy-intensive compressors and highly polluting refrigerants. It is a modern system in line with the ecological transition compared to a traditional conditioning system.
The choice of the system depends on various factors such as:
- the application,
- the activities carried out in the environment to be cooled,
- whether the environment is completely enclosed and not influenced by continuously opening doors and windows,
- the desired level of comfort inside the environment,
- the need for air exchange,
- the difference in energy consumption required to neutralize the heat to be dissipated,
- and the possibility of operating in free cooling during periods and times when it is less hot to save energy (e.g., evenings or shoulder seasons) while still ensuring ventilation and necessary air exchange,
- cost differences for installation and operation are also considered.
The Impresind ColdAIR adiabatic evaporative cooling system allows for cooling, ventilation, and providing the necessary supply of fresh and oxygenated air for large environments, even those that are not completely insulated and enclosed. This includes:
- greenhouse cultivation,
- animal breeding facilities,
- as well as venues for public events, conventions,
- and restaurants accommodating dozens or hundreds of people.
The system achieves a temperature reduction of approximately 5-6 °C compared to the outdoor temperature, in compliance with health and safety regulations governing these types of activities. A greater temperature difference would cause discomfort and inconvenience to the occupants. The cooled air tends to settle downwards, pushing the warm, stale air towards the ceiling, which is then expelled through skylights, other natural openings, or exhaust fans, thus ensuring air exchange and "cleaning" of the environment. The exhaust and stale air evacuation prevents excessive pressure build-up in the space.
During cooler hours or shoulder seasons, the system can operate in free cooling mode, utilizing the cooler outside air for air exchange while saving water and energy. In any case, the ColdAIR coolers are equipped with an automatic water-saving system that optimizes water consumption based on the actual needs, avoiding unnecessary waste.
The humid air leaving the system comes into contact with the warmer and drier ambient air, mixing together. The final relative humidity is never higher than a few percentage points compared to the outdoor air, thanks to the large air exchanges provided by the system.
Due to the large volumes to be cooled, poor insulation of buildings, presence of large glass surfaces, and a large number of people, a traditional conditioning system would require a very high cooling capacity, resulting in high energy consumption and installation costs. In comparison, an adiabatic system would cost one-third and consume about one-tenth of the equivalent cooling capacity.
Prevents Legionella proliferation
It should be noted that the adiabatic system provides approximately 15-20 air exchanges per hour, depending on the operating speed, while a traditional conditioning system cannot provide air exchanges without a higher cooling capacity and even higher energy consumption.
The adiabatic system is supplied with tap water (potable) or sanitized water to prevent the spread of bacteria such as Legionella.
The conditions that promote Legionella proliferation are stagnant water at a temperature above 23°C at atmospheric pressure on the 45th Parallel.
The ColdAIR coolers are equipped with a management system that prevents water stagnation within the machine.
In addition to regular washing cycles of the evaporative pads and discharge of "residual" water, when the machine is turned off at the end of the day, the control system automatically drains all the remaining water to avoid stagnation and the potential proliferation of microorganisms, including Legionella.
For added assurance, in the event of a power outage, the water discharge opens automatically, ensuring that the machine remains dry. The ColdAIR coolers have undergone specific testing regarding Legionella proliferation. Certified Laboratory Test Reports are available to demonstrate the absence of bacterial proliferation within the machine when supplied with potable water.
Another important technical feature of the ColdAIR coolers is their exclusive patented technology (Health) for filtering and purifying the outside air drawn in.
The evaporative pads are treated with titanium dioxide, which, when activated by sunlight, triggers photocatalysis to convert and reduce pollutants and pathogens present in the outdoor air, including CO, SO, NO, Nox, PM10, PM5, and others. This results in purified and unpolluted air being released into the environment, benefiting the health of the people present. Test reports from the Politecnico di Milano and the Politecnico di Torino demonstrate these results.
In conclusion, for the mentioned environments, it is preferable to install a ColdAIR adiabatic evaporative cooling system rather than a traditional conditioning system to achieve significant comfort and energy-saving benefits.