Analysis of Evaporative Pre-Cooling for Commercial Air-Conditioning Equipment
Project Number ET14SDG1051 Organization SDG&E End-use HVAC Sector Commercial, Public Project Year(s) 2014 - 2016Project Summary
This report describes the results from field demonstration of evaporative pre-cooling technology on commercial HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) equipment for SDG&E (San Diego Gas & Electric) at a field site in California climate zone 10. This study seeks to evaluate the energy efficiency, water use, performance, and effect on peak demand of this technology in real world operation. Of particular interest is the application of this technology to large air-cooled, rooftop units (RTUs). The results of this study provide the technical basis on which a utility may consider deploying the technology in similar hot, dry climates. The study showed that evaporative pre-cooling technology offers energy savings—particularly during peak hours—with limited water consumption.