Portable air conditioners with built-in water dispensers are often known as "evaporative air coolers" or "swamp coolers." These units work on a different principle compared to traditional portable air conditioners, which use refrigerant to cool the air. Let's explore how each type operates and their effectiveness:
Traditional Portable Air Conditioners: These units work by extracting warm air from the room, passing it through an evaporator coil where the refrigerant absorbs heat from the air, and then blowing the cooled air back into the room. The heat absorbed by the refrigerant is then expelled through the exhaust hose to the outside. Traditional portable air conditioners do not have water dispensers or use water in their cooling process.
Evaporative Air Coolers (Swamp Coolers): These units use the process of evaporation to cool the air. They have a water tank or water dispenser, and the cooling effect is achieved by drawing warm air through water-saturated pads. As the air passes over the wet pads, it cools down through the evaporation of water, and the cooler air is then blown into the room. The process is similar to the natural cooling effect of sweat evaporating from your skin.
Effectiveness Comparison:
The effectiveness of each type of portable cooling unit depends on the climate and humidity levels in the area where they are used:
Traditional Portable Air Conditioners: These are generally more effective in hot and humid climates. Since they use refrigerant-based cooling, they can reduce both temperature and humidity levels in the room, providing more comfortable and controlled cooling.
Evaporative Air Coolers: These work best in dry climates with low humidity. In such environments, the evaporation process is efficient, resulting in significant cooling. However, in areas with high humidity, the evaporation process is less effective because the air is already saturated with moisture, reducing the cooling effect.
In summary, if you live in a hot and humid climate, a traditional portable air conditioner is likely to cool better and provide more effective cooling and dehumidification. On the other hand, if you reside in a dry climate, an evaporative air cooler can be an energy-efficient and effective cooling option, as long as you can tolerate the increase in humidity that it introduces into the room.