干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

Natural down-draft evaporative coolers are devices recently developed at the University of Arizona's Environmental Research Laboratory (ERL). These towers-like devices are equipped with wetted pads and sprays at the top which provide cool air by gravity flow. Tn acid regions, these devices can be used for cooling residential and commercial buildings, as well as outdoor private and public areas. This paper focuses on some recent developments and applications of the towers in arid regions internationally and nationally. The paper also demonstrates CoolT(C), a computer program developed by the author that has been used for cool tower sizing and performance prediction. Recent examples include the Botswana Technology Center, a Headquarters office building in South Africa currently under construction. This building is cooled by a series of cool towers, and the MOMRA ''Environmental Rowdah'' project in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia another recently built project which demonstrates the use of cool towers for cooling outdoor spaces.