Anyone ever implemented an indirect evaporative cooler in a van/RV? I just emailed Coolerado but so far can't seem to find a small unit that would fit in a van. I like these because I live in a humid climate and they don't add humidity to the cool air entering the van.
indirect evaporative cooler (Coolerado)
- Thread starter JohnWes
- Start date
Help Support Van Living Forum:
ccbreder, you're thinking about direct evaporative cooling. Indirect doesn't put moisture into the air entering the cabin and the heat exchangers look pretty tricky to construct. It's not a widely used technology here yet. Coolerado is the only one I've found in the U.S. and they aren't nationwide yet; they have a pretty good video online explaining the technology.
Seraphim
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 12, 2011
- Messages
- 2,610
- Reaction score
- 0
I'm reading several things in here: complex, bulky, needs a lot of water to function... Just makes me wonder about the practicality of using it for something as small as a van.
http://www.buildinggreen.com/auth/a...o-Evaporative-Cooling-Without-Added-Humidity/
http://www.buildinggreen.com/auth/a...o-Evaporative-Cooling-Without-Added-Humidity/
<p>They haven't released a small model designed for RV's yet, but Coolerado and another developing company I contacted are both planning one. The only "complex" thing is the heat exchanger though the concept is very very simple; I mentioned it being tricky because I can't find a way to build one from scrap or existing materials myself. I think it was Coolerado that mentioned being able to reclaim the vapor from the exhaust too, but I don't know how much energy that would take...</p><p>In the meantime, I'm planning to install a 5000 BTU window unit in my rig as the high-efficiency (~20 EER) mini-split systems are still pretty pricey.</p>
Greetings!
First let's correctly define these types of coolers...
An "Evaporative Cooler" appears to be what most people are calling a "Swamp Cooler" when in fact they are two similar yet distinctly different appliances.
With an evaporative cooler, the air is either drawn in or blown out through a fibrous material soaked with water. This type of cooler will add moisture/humidity to the air which can be helpful in dry climates, but renders them nearly useless in high humidity climates. This device will consume water, up to several gallons daily and need to be refilled when needed.
A true swamp cooler, circulates the water through a small radiator, very similar to the heater core used in cars. The air is then either drawn in or blown out through this radiator. This type of cooler can be used in both humid and dry climates quite effectively. Without the addition of ice, this device is pretty self sustaining, only rarely needing a top off of fresh water. With ice, this unit will need to be drained down to compensate for the addition of the ice.
Both types employ water, a pump, and a fan. The performance of both can be greatly enhanced by adding ice to the water.
For use in a vehicle, you don't want moisture, so you will want to use a swamp cooler.
I use a repurposed marine swamp cooler that I salvaged from an abandoned boat in the middle of the desert. I then did some modifications to make it more suitable for dry land vehicle use.
Using this, I'm also the guy you might see parked in a camper van on a 120f degree day, wearing a sweater with a big grin on his face. It DOES work!
A while back when I posted a similar message on a Slab City forum, suddenly everyone knew exactly who I am. Maybe I have met a few people here over the years as well.
Hope this helps...
Cheers!
The CamperVan_Man
First let's correctly define these types of coolers...
An "Evaporative Cooler" appears to be what most people are calling a "Swamp Cooler" when in fact they are two similar yet distinctly different appliances.
With an evaporative cooler, the air is either drawn in or blown out through a fibrous material soaked with water. This type of cooler will add moisture/humidity to the air which can be helpful in dry climates, but renders them nearly useless in high humidity climates. This device will consume water, up to several gallons daily and need to be refilled when needed.
A true swamp cooler, circulates the water through a small radiator, very similar to the heater core used in cars. The air is then either drawn in or blown out through this radiator. This type of cooler can be used in both humid and dry climates quite effectively. Without the addition of ice, this device is pretty self sustaining, only rarely needing a top off of fresh water. With ice, this unit will need to be drained down to compensate for the addition of the ice.
Both types employ water, a pump, and a fan. The performance of both can be greatly enhanced by adding ice to the water.
For use in a vehicle, you don't want moisture, so you will want to use a swamp cooler.
I use a repurposed marine swamp cooler that I salvaged from an abandoned boat in the middle of the desert. I then did some modifications to make it more suitable for dry land vehicle use.
Using this, I'm also the guy you might see parked in a camper van on a 120f degree day, wearing a sweater with a big grin on his face. It DOES work!
A while back when I posted a similar message on a Slab City forum, suddenly everyone knew exactly who I am. Maybe I have met a few people here over the years as well.
Hope this helps...
Cheers!
The CamperVan_Man
Greetings!
Here's a link for a commercial unit available now, and if anyone wants DIY directions, I can supply them.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/GoCool-12V-...oner-For-Camping-Tent-RV-Camper-/121253526191
Cheers!
The CamperVan_Man
PS: I am not associated with these guys, and don't make any sort of profit either. It does however look like the workings of this unit are similar to mine. And I LOVE mine!
Here's a link for a commercial unit available now, and if anyone wants DIY directions, I can supply them.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/GoCool-12V-...oner-For-Camping-Tent-RV-Camper-/121253526191
Cheers!
The CamperVan_Man
PS: I am not associated with these guys, and don't make any sort of profit either. It does however look like the workings of this unit are similar to mine. And I LOVE mine!
servant74
New member
- Joined
- May 22, 2015
- Messages
- 1
- Reaction score
- 0
I am thinking about doing a DIY Indirect Evaporative Cooler. It is a 2 stage type unit. First is evaporative cooler, standard stuff. Second is an 'air to air heat exchanger'. Once side you put the evaporatively cooled air and the other side you put the 'supply air'. The Supply air does not have humidity added, so it goes into the space you are trying to cool. The 'evaporatively cooled air' goes to cool the non-humidified air through the air to air heat exchanger and release the humidified air into an appropriate place outside... (under an awning? to get double the use out of the same effort?)
The Coolerado does that but just releases the humidified air into the atmosphere.
The energy required is to run a fan (or two) to provide air to flow through the un-humidified air into the living space, this is the 'supply air' as noted above. Some goes to go through a humidifier section to pick up humidity (like water poured over wood or fiberglass used as a media to help humidify the air, that the air is pushed or pulled through) then through the air-to-air heat exchanger to reduce the temperature of the 'supply' air.
A controller is needed to turn on/off the humidifier air blower a few seconds to a minute or so before the 'supply air' is blowing. Also, the water pump should turn off before the humidifier blower goes off to help dry out the humidification filter to reduce possibility of mold. But that is just gilding the lily. For testing running them and a pump with the same switch is sufficient.
I don't have an immediate need. Someone want to build one and report back?
The Coolerado does that but just releases the humidified air into the atmosphere.
The energy required is to run a fan (or two) to provide air to flow through the un-humidified air into the living space, this is the 'supply air' as noted above. Some goes to go through a humidifier section to pick up humidity (like water poured over wood or fiberglass used as a media to help humidify the air, that the air is pushed or pulled through) then through the air-to-air heat exchanger to reduce the temperature of the 'supply' air.
A controller is needed to turn on/off the humidifier air blower a few seconds to a minute or so before the 'supply air' is blowing. Also, the water pump should turn off before the humidifier blower goes off to help dry out the humidification filter to reduce possibility of mold. But that is just gilding the lily. For testing running them and a pump with the same switch is sufficient.
I don't have an immediate need. Someone want to build one and report back?
bandaidqueen
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 18, 2019
- Messages
- 86
- Reaction score
- 0
I know this is a really old thread, but has anyone else had success with the INDIRECT style swamp cooler? I've gotten reports that they work great in humid climates, so I built one, but it doesn't seem to work just quite yet. I'm sure I've done something wrong in my build - maybe the second fan isn't powerful enough, or my airflow is not going where I need it to go. It's a basic swamp cooler on the bottom, but the output air (humid air) goes back outside instead of into the van. The swamp cooler process won't cool the air very well because of humidity, but a by-product of the swamp cooler process will be cold WATER. This cold water from the swamp cooler is then pumped into a car radiator or heater core, and a fan blows inside van air through that, which should provide cooling. (Idealy, you will not have much ventilation with this cooler, it will just be inside air re-circulating through the radiator, so the inside air will get colder and colder the longer you run it.) So there's two places where air circulates - one inside the swamp cooler - this air never comes into contact with the inside air in your van - and the air inside the van, which is pulled through the radiator. This design requires two fans and can use either one or two water pumps (I used two, but one would probably be better). I'm still working on it, I think I've figured out where I need more air flow, just wondering if anyone else has had success with this design??? I've gotten some great feedback from a vandweller on another forum but he was unable to provide pictures and I'd love to see some photos of a working model, or if anyone has tips to make it work better. Thanks!!!
bandaidqueen
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 18, 2019
- Messages
- 86
- Reaction score
- 0
Here's pictures of the one I made, which is not working properly:
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="" title="Frankencooler Back"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50247161843_91b8ac3109_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="Frankencooler Back"></a>
This is the back side of the cooler. The swamp cooler is at the bottom and the air chiller is at the top. The air exits the Igloo from the same hole as the water hoses are coming out of, this might be part of the problem, the air can't circulate as freely as it should. At the moment I just point this side toward an open window, but ideally I would have air hoses that would take this air to and from the window, so none of this air ever mixes with inside air. Also the fans on the top unit are far too weak. I will be looking for a stronger 12V fan.
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="" title="Frankencooler Front"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50248005017_0b753da8c6_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="Frankencooler Front"></a>
This is the front side. Cold air SHOULD be coming through that heater core on the top. Again, fan is too weak, and I think I want a better seal to insure all the air from the fan is forced through the heater core - right now some air can get around it.
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="" title="Frankencooler Inside"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50247161773_ae76b2ae9f_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="Frankencooler Inside"></a>
Inside the swamp cooler. Pretty standard.
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="" title="Frankencooler Back"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50247161843_91b8ac3109_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="Frankencooler Back"></a>
This is the back side of the cooler. The swamp cooler is at the bottom and the air chiller is at the top. The air exits the Igloo from the same hole as the water hoses are coming out of, this might be part of the problem, the air can't circulate as freely as it should. At the moment I just point this side toward an open window, but ideally I would have air hoses that would take this air to and from the window, so none of this air ever mixes with inside air. Also the fans on the top unit are far too weak. I will be looking for a stronger 12V fan.
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="" title="Frankencooler Front"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50248005017_0b753da8c6_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="Frankencooler Front"></a>
This is the front side. Cold air SHOULD be coming through that heater core on the top. Again, fan is too weak, and I think I want a better seal to insure all the air from the fan is forced through the heater core - right now some air can get around it.
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="" title="Frankencooler Inside"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50247161773_ae76b2ae9f_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="Frankencooler Inside"></a>
Inside the swamp cooler. Pretty standard.
bandaidqueen
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 18, 2019
- Messages
- 86
- Reaction score
- 0
Just saw jonyjoe303's pictures on my other thread, looks great!!! Hope I can get mine working as well.
