Performance assessment of dual-mode evaporative cooler for futuristic climatic scenarios considering climate change effect

Abstract

Climate change is expected to have a significant impact on device usability in different regions. Hence, it is necessary to study its impact on the performance of evaporative cooling, which is an alternative cooling technology to reduce increasing energy demand and carbon footprint. This study focuses on exploring the usefulness of the dual-mode evaporative cooler for future weather scenarios. An experimental prototype of a dual-mode evaporative cooler is developed and tested to validate the simulation model. The exponential smoothing method is used to forecast the temperature and humidity for four Indian cities (Varanasi, Delhi, Jodhpur, and Mumbai) of different climatic zones (composite, hot-dry and hot-humid). The six-month average temperature of Delhi and Mumbai city will increase by 0.48 °C and 0.62 °C, respectively. The dew point effectiveness, cooling capacity, and COP in both modes of the dual-mode evaporative cooler are investigated for all four cities. The suitability of the modes of the dual-mode evaporative cooler is predicted based on the thermal comfort conditions for present and future scenarios using a psychometric chart. The present study reveals the usefulness of the dual-mode cooler in future (for example, 2030) scenarios for composite and hot-dry climatic conditions.