Add an extra layer of security to evaporative cooling

In a post pandemic world, there is increasing concern around the spread of viruses through heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. While evaporative cooling has always been a safe way to keep personnel comfortable, Master solutions add extra protection from bacteria and viruses, including COVID-19. Read on to find out how.

What is evaporative cooling?

Evaporative cooling has been in use for centuries and harnesses the natural process of evaporation to take warm air from a hot atmosphere and create a fresh flow of cold air — much like a sea breeze by the coast. As you would expect, modern systems are far more advanced in terms of practicality and their range of applications. However, even the most up-to-date technology is based on the same scientific principles.

Here’s how they work:

• A fan draws hot dry air across cooler pads which absorb water from a reservoir inside the unit.
  
• When the hot air crosses the cooler pads, the water molecules on the surface evaporate and lower the air temperature inside the system.
  
• This fresh air is circulated around a building, forcing hot stale air outside.

What causes safety concerns around HVAC systems?

When people see vents and ducts inside a room, it is not immediately clear that the cool air flowing through them is not coming from another area of the building and recirculating infected air. While this may be partly true in some air conditioning systems, industrial evaporative coolers are generally placed on the roof of a building, factory or aircraft hangar to bring in a constant supply of fresh air from outside.

Another factor that differentiates air conditioning and evaporative cooling is that AC units in constant use can cause the atmosphere to become dry. Evaporative coolers however, will increase humidity (by how much depends on the outside environment). This actually makes it more difficult for viruses to spread around a building or production facility, providing the relative humidity levels are kept between 40 and 60%. With a Master solution, these levels can be kept in-check from a control panel built into the unit, or remotely via the SUPERMASTER 10, which can be used to monitor up to 31 BCM Cooling units.

Perhaps the most significant advantage of evaporative coolers in preventing the spread of viruses is their ability to operate at full capacity in open environments. This already makes them the most appropriate solution for factories and aircraft hangers - where large doors are opened frequently - but recent studies suggest that the transmission of COVID-19 is much more common in enclosed areas.

What are the benefits of UV lights in evaporative cooling units?

While evaporative coolers have always been a safe way to provide comfortable working conditions, since the COVID-19 outbreak, Master’s industrial evaporative coolers have been equipped with UV lights to kill any viruses and bacteria in the water used to cool the air.

How does it work?

UVC radiation (the most powerful portion of the UV spectrum) renders micro-organisms – such as bacteria and viruses – ineffective by destroying the genetic information in their DNA. This, in turn, prevents them from reproducing.

Inside a Master evaporative cooler, the UV light is directed at the water as it is pumped from the reservoir into the cooler pads. This kills bacteria and viruses before they can enter the cool air to be flowed into the building.

Protect staff and personnel with an extra layer of security

A well-maintained system, with the extra security of a UV light, may have a significant role in the future of reducing the risk of viruses in industrial and aerospace working environments.

To learn more about the benefits of evaporative cooling and to discover the systems available, don’t hesitate to contact our team of experts using the form below.