Experimental study of a sustainable cooling process hybridizing indirect evaporative cooling and mechanical vapor compression

The hybrid indirect evaporative cooling-mechanical vapor compression (IEC-MVC) process is an emerging cooling technology that combines the advantages of IEC and MVC, i.e., effective temperature humidity control, high energy efficiency, low water consumption. This paper presents experimental study IEC-MVC process. A 1-Rton pilot fabricated by connecting MVC in series, its performance evaluated under different operating conditions (outdoor air humidity, flowrate, compressor frequency). Results revealed outdoor could be lowered to 5–15 °C 5–10 g/kg, respectively. handles 35%–50% total load, consumption can reduced 15%–35% as compared standalone MVC. Moreover, condensate collected from evaporator compensate for >70% IEC, making system applicable arid regions. Based on derived results, a simplified empirical model developed rapid evaluation process, energy-saving potential major cities Saudi Arabia estimated.