EVAPORATIVE COOLING BEHAVIOR IN POROUS CERAMIC FOAM PACKING

The heat and mass transfer process between air and water in an evaporative cooler depends heavily on the packing material. Ceramic foam, which was made up of alumina (Al2O3) and has a pore density of 30PPI (pores per inch), was selected to be the experimental wetted pad. Experiments about the evaporation of water in it were carried out in a psychometric chamber with controllable air temperature and humidity. The cooling efficiency was assessed under the effects of several variables such as dry-and wet-bulb temperature of air, flow ratio of air to water, as well as the water temperature. The obtainable highest cooling efficiency of alumina ceramic foam packing was 0.63. The cooling efficiency varied inversely with the dry-and wet-bulb temperature of air, as well as the mass flow ratio between air and water. Water temperature exerted no signifcant effect on the cooling efficiency.