Indirect evaporative cooling systems: An experimental analysis in summer condition

Indirect evaporative coolers (IEC) are components that can be effectively installed in air handling units to increase energy efficiency of air conditioning systems. In particular, such devices can be used in summer conditions to reduce chiller load in both existing and new buildings. In this paper, an IEC system based on a cross flow heat exchanger has been tested, evaluating its cooling capacity in different operating conditions. Performance is evaluated in terms of wet bulb effectiveness, primary air temperature reduction and fraction of evaporated water. Results put in evidence that a significant cooling capacity can be achieved in many operating conditions. Therefore, IECs are a promising technology that can be effectively used to reduce primary energy consumption of conventional systems.