The following is a presentation by Barry Leuverman, Netherlands-based export director at OXYCOM, on sustainable cooling using water as a coolant, edited by Eamonn Ryan. This is Part 1 of a two-part series.

A well-attended event in Cape Town.

A well-attended event in Cape Town. Images supplied by Rozelle Steenkamp | SAIRAC Cape Town Centre.

Most of us are familiar with cooling towers and adiabatic cooling, but our method at OXYCOM is slightly different. We have developed unique material and patented the entire process and product.

Our company has been in operation for approximately 20 years, and while we are not a large manufacturer, we specialise in producing these material panels. The other activities involved in the manufacturing process are outsourced and we oversee the assembly of the final product. Additionally, we also provide a range of supplementary products.

Our system is designed to operate efficiently even with limited energy supply. We have tested our system using a normal generator, with the largest generator producing four kilowatts, and our system still provides sufficient cooling power of up to 35 kilowatts. For larger-scale applications, our system can provide up to 190-200 kilowatts of cooling.

Indirect evaporative cooling systems have a media component located inside our equipment, and an external heat exchanger. Cold water passes through the heat exchanger, creating indirect contact between the water and air. This extra step enhances the cooling process and improves efficiency.

The cold water passing through the exchanger indirectly cools the air, resulting in even lower temperatures. This is the essence of our innovative approach.

Our evaporative cooling system works by keeping the air separate from the water. This means that we can lower the temperature and decrease the humidity in the air, which allows us to create a more comfortable environment.

To achieve this, we use a two-part system: PreCooll which functions by direct adiabatic cooling, and IntrCooll which works with free cooling and ventilation with outside air. The first part ventilates the water supply, ensuring that the water does not get warm – this is important because warm water is not effective for cooling purposes. We cool down the water in the first half of the system to ensure that it stays at an optimal temperature.

A supply fan ensures that the water remains cold and creates a high rate of evaporation. The material used in our system helps the water stick to the surface, increasing the evaporation process. The reflective surface of the system helps to maintain cool temperatures.

When working on a project, we take into account various factors, including the weather data of the location. This helps us calculate the cooling power required and make the system more efficient. Water availability is also considered, as we aim to limit water usage while maintaining optimal cooling performance.

Continued in Part 2…