Experimental Investigation of Evaporative Hybrid Water Cooler

The water cooler is a device which cools and dispenses water which is used to provide easy access to drinking water. The water coolers which are currently available in the market are works on the concept of VCR (Vapour Compression Refrigeration) System. These water coolers consume high electric power almost 250-350W, these systems also have huge impacts on the ecosystem due to CFC and HCFC emissions. Best alternative for existing VCR based water cooler is the system of evaporative cooling with thermoelectric cooler having affordable cost and eco-friendly. Hybrid water cooler works on the principle of evaporative cooling and Thermoelectric cooling, which provides cold water, hot water and it works as an Air cooler also. Evaporative cooling works on concept of evaporation of water and rate of evaporation is totally depending on humidity of surrounded air. By using evaporative cooling obtain the temperature difference of 8-10°C. During the hot day, the temperature of water in the water tank would be 40°C, then the evaporative cooling alone will not be sufficient to cool the water to 22°C, which is ideal temperature of water for drinking purpose. So, thermoelectric module works on principle of Peltier effect which can produce the temperature difference across its surfaces on applying potential difference across its terminals. As the thermoelectric module produce the temperature difference up to 40°C across its surface, it can easily cool the water to 20°C. More than 60% energy could be obtained by this system in comparison with respect to existing VCR based cooler, so this system can be used as an eco- friendly and cost effective.