EVALUATION OF THE POTENTIAL OF EVAPORATIVE COOLING FOR HUMAN THERMAL COMFORT A CASE OF KANO, NIGERIA

Ibrahim, U.H¹., A.A. Baba¹ and Ishaq, M².

¹Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal Polytechnic Mubi, Adamawa State, Nigeria

²Department of Mechanical Engineering, Bayero University Kano, Nigeria

E-mail: heldabuk@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

In some developing countries like Nigeria, poverty and epileptic power supply are the twin problems impeding people from the use of refrigerated-based air conditioning systems to achieve thermal comfort. Also, the use of some refrigerants has adverse effect on the environment. Evaporative cooling systems are viable options for achieving thermal comfort especially in hot and dry climates. These systems, apart from their low cost and power requirement, they are environmentally friendly. This work attempts to determine the viability of using evaporative coolers to achieve thermal comfort in Kano using the feasibility Index Method. The computed feasibility indices of Kano in the months of January through December are -0.2, 0.1, 0.1, 6.6, 9.5, 14.2, 18, 19.1, 18.2, 10.6, 5.5 and 2.1 respectively. Employing the concept of feasibility index (FI) method reveals that comfort cooling can be achieved in the months of January, February, March, April, May, November and December while relief cooling can be achieved in the months of June and October. The method also reveals the unsuitability of evaporative cooling in the months of July, August and September. Considering both the comfort and the relief cooling periods based on the FI method, evaporative coolers can therefore be used to achieve human thermal comfort in the study area.

Keywords: Feasibility index, Evaporative cooler, Thermal comfort, Temperature