Adiabatic coolers are the most effective solution in terms of comfort and sustainability for cooling large industrial environments, hangars, railway workshops, and commercial areas.
Thanks to their simple operation based on the principle of water evaporation, these "air conditioning" systems can lower the temperature inside work areas by several degrees without over-drying or over-cooling the air, but rather adding a percentage of humidity useful for keeping the air fresh and healthy without causing that annoying throat irritation caused by excessively dry air.
As mentioned in the dedicated article, the temperature reduction is influenced by the percentage of humidity present in the air.
How much does an evaporative cooler lower the temperature?
With an outside air temperature of 32 °C and a humidity level of 45%, the cooler can reduce the air temperature by as much as 8-10 °C, introducing it into the work environment at a temperature of approximately 24 °C.
For this reason, one of the questions we are asked most frequently is: do evaporative coolers also work in a hot and humid environment?
The doubt is legitimate, because humidity affects the efficiency of the evaporative process. However, this does not mean that the coolers do not work: it means they must be understood, designed, and sized correctly.
In the following paragraphs, we analyze how an adiabatic cooler behaves in hot and humid environments, what results can be expected, and in which situations this technology still offers significant advantages in terms of comfort, air exchange, and energy consumption.
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Water coolers are effective even in hot and humid environments
The efficiency of an evaporative system depends on the relative humidity rate present in the outside air; summarizing the concept in a few lines: the hotter and drier (i.e., less humid) the day, the higher its performance will be.
Starting from this concept, we can therefore understand that the presence of a high humidity rate partially limits the "amount of heat" that can be removed through the exchange that occurs between air and water during the cooling cycle.
However, there is a fundamental aspect to consider: usually, during the hottest summer days, the humidity rate does not remain constant: an increase in air temperature always corresponds to a decrease in the relative humidity rate.
This can be clearly seen in the graph below:
By processing data collected over a three-day period in July in Buttapietra (VR), we can see that as the temperature increases, the relative humidity of the air drops significantly, reaching 40% or less during the hottest hours, when the outside temperature exceeds 30 °C.
In this case, therefore, an evaporative cooling system finds itself working in entirely favorable conditions, introducing fresh and comfortable air into the work environment, essential for ensuring the psychophysical well-being of workers.
What happens when humidity is high throughout the day
So far so clear, you might be thinking, but what happens to water coolers if the humidity rate remains high and constant throughout the day?
As we can easily imagine, the system's performance will be slightly lower and the temperature drop of the "treated" air will be only a few degrees; nevertheless, the temperature reduction will still provide clear benefits in terms of comfort.
The situation is different for evening and nighttime hours, during which as the temperature drops, the humidity rate tends to rise, as shown in the graph: when the temperature reaches 18 °C, the humidity rate exceeds 80%.
In such conditions, the evaporative system directly utilizes the mild temperatures of the outside air, introducing it into the environment without the need to cool it and therefore without using water, for greater savings.
Conclusion
An adiabatic cooler works even in hot and humid conditions, but its performance depends on the relative humidity level and the correct design of the system. Even when the temperature reduction is more limited, the system continues to ensure high perceived comfort thanks to the large volumes of fresh air introduced, improved air exchange, and the reduction of heat accumulation in production environments.
For warehouses, storage facilities, production departments, and areas with a heavy presence of machinery, adiabatic coolers remain an efficient, sustainable solution with lower operating costs compared to traditional air conditioning. The key is targeted design: volume assessment, adequate air changes, and correct machine positioning.
Would you like more information on how evaporative cooling works?
Read our blog article where we explain in detail what it is, how it works, and the numerous advantages this type of system offers.
Evaporative cooling:
what it is, how it works
A natural and sustainable principle that allows you to cool the air in medium-to-large environments for fatigue-proof workplaces!
If you want to understand if this technology is suitable for your facility, discover our adiabatic coolers and contact us for a personalized consultation.
If you are looking for an efficient and effective solution in terms of comfort and sustainability to cool your company, contact us; our sales department will be at your complete disposal to provide all the information you need.
