Evaporative
coolers are not ideal for hotel air conditioning, except in cool
climates, or where there is a shortage of electrical power. This is
because evaporative coolers are not as effective at removing the very
high heat loads in a hotel. The exception is in hotel kitchens where
refrigerated air conditioning is simply too expensive.
However if you do have evaporative coolers, their effectiveness can
be maximised with the following ideas. Evaporative coolers rely on
three main things to be effective. These are airflow, air velocity in
the room, and effectiveness of the pads.
To ensure you get the airflow, it is necessary either to open doors
and windows, or have exhaust fans that remove nearly as much air as
the coolers supply. When opening doors and windows, avoid opening them
on the windward side if a strong wind is blowing the hot air in.
To ensure there is enough air motion in the room, it may be necessary
to experiment with the direction the grilles are blowing. Normally you
want them to blow slightly down, but spread over a wide area.
Make sure the pads are in good condition. This is particularly
important for a cooler with woodwool pads.
Commercial and industrial coolers must be maintained three monthly
when the coolers are operating. In addition if the coolers are shut
down for winter the water in the tank should be drained. For an
extensive site on evaporative coolers (albeit based on residential
cooling) go to evapcool.htm