Thermodynamic Modeling and Analysis of Key Parameters Affecting the Performance and Water Consumption of Direct Evaporative Coolers Using Design of Experiments and Full Factorial Design Approach

Authors

1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Se.C., Islamic Azad University, Semnan, Iran

2 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Qo.C., Islamic Azad University, Qom, Iran

3 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Se.c., Islamic Azad University, Semnan, Iran

10.22044/jsfm.2026.15985.3954

Abstract

This study examines the performance of direct evaporative coolers through thermodynamic modeling and experimental design methods, focusing on key operational parameters affecting water consumption and cooling capacity. A developed thermodynamic model demonstrates high predictive accuracy, validated against experimental data with average errors of 1.9% for outlet air temperature and 7% for water consumption. Using a full factorial design of experiments (DOE), the research analyzes individual and interactive effects of critical factors, revealing that inlet air flow rate and saturation efficiency significantly influence water use. Specifically, increasing saturation efficiency from 40% to 90% leads to a 130% rise in water consumption, highlighting important efficiency trade-offs. The study proposes two simplified regression models for estimating cooling capacity and water requirements, which are applied to assess annual water consumption across nine major Iranian cities with diverse climatic conditions. For a standard 7,000 CFM cooler operating at 70% efficiency, results show annual water use varies substantially from 58 m³ in Tabriz to 194 m³ in Yazd, emphasizing the critical role of climate in system performance. These findings provide practical insights for engineers to optimize cooler design and selection, while supporting policymakers in developing water management strategies and sustainable urban planning. Additionally, the results offer valuable input for updating building codes, particularly Iran's National Building Code (Article 19), and contribute to the development of efficient cooling solutions in hot, arid regions, balancing performance with water conservation needs.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Journal of Solid and Fluid Mechanics
Volume 16, Issue 2
July and August 2026
Pages 183-210

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics