In Part 1: The Science and Technology, of this series, I discussed the science behind Indirect Evaporative Cooling. I also explained how the technology Cambridge Air Solutions uses in the units provides the benefits of indirect evaporative cooling without the drawback of higher humidity. In Part2, I’ll discuss how Indirect Evaporative Cooling (IEC) can be used as an alternative to Air Conditioning (AC).
Options for Comfort Cooling
Traditional thinking is that there are really only two ways to cool an industrial facility to provide comfort cooling for people. The first option is to install a general ventilation system. This would consist of using fans and louvers for supply and exhaust air flow. However, the limitation of a general ventilation system is that it can only make the inside temperature the same as the outside. So if it is 90ºF outside, it will be 90ºF inside. Adding spot cooling fans or HVLS fans can provide some additional cooling effect, but they don’t lower the inside temperature. The biggest drawback is in order to feel the cooling effect, a person needs to be in the fan’s air stream.
The second option is to install AC. With AC, the inside temperature can be brought down to a level below the maximum productivity temperature of 77ºF which is often the goal for comfort cooling. However, the downside is that there are higher costs associated with using AC for comfort cooling compared to a general ventilation system. The significant capital costs for AC equipment and installation are often hard to justify from a payback perspective. Then if the capital costs don’t drive a company away from this option, the shock of the added operating costs for electricity and maintenance will most likely make them reconsider this option.
A Game Changing Option
What makes IEC a gamer changer as an alternative to air conditioning are the significantly lower capital and operating costs. The annual utility and maintenance costs for an IEC system are about 1/3 the costs of a similar sized AC system. Another cost advantage that an IEC has over an AC system is that it doesn’t require a sealed and insulated building envelop. For an AC system, open man or truck doors can increase costs to keep a facility cool. With an IEC system, these openings can be a benefit to allow air to exhaust from the building.
Creating Successful Work Environments
We believe that the lower costs for an IEC system will make it easier for more companies to shoot for the goal of keeping their facilities below the maximum productivity temperature. This will lead to creating successful work environments where people are cool and productive. To learn more about how an IEC system can benefit your facility, call us and we will have one of our ventilation specialists pay you a visit.
In Part 3 of this series I’ll discuss another game changing application using the Cambridge Air Solutions IEC unit paired with a DOAS unit to lower the costs of cooling make-up air.