Adiabatic cooling improves air-conditioning performance — and can be retrofitted
Trane has developed a technique to improve the performance of air-conditioning systems by using adiabatic cooling to reducing the temperature of the air on to the heat-rejection coil by up to 20 K. A 10 K temperature drop can reduce power consumption by 13%.
As well as increasing efficiency, adiabatic cooling can help maintain cooling capacity during peak season. Adiabatic cooling also reduces discharge temperature as well as lowering the temperature of the oil and motor windings to improve compressor and overall system reliability.
Adiabatic cooling is achieved by intermittently evaporating water on a large mesh in front of the coils, while preventing the water from actually reaching the coil. The water-spray system works with normal mains pressure: a water pump or water treatment are not required.
This type of adiabatic cooling can be retro-fitted to existing chillers. The sectional mesh design enables it to be installed in a wide range of air-cooled HVAC systems — from mini-splits to chilled-water systems.
