A Comprehensive Review of the Applications of Hybrid Evaporative Cooling and Solar Energy Source Systems

Tinghui Xue, Yangda Wan (), Zhifeng Huang, Pinyi Chen, Jie Lin, Weidong Chen and Haibo Liu
Additional contact information
Tinghui Xue: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
Yangda Wan: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
Zhifeng Huang: Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117575, Singapore
Pinyi Chen: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
Jie Lin: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Science, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
Weidong Chen: Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117575, Singapore
Haibo Liu: Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Health Maintenance for Mechanical Equipment, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, China

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 24, 1-26

Abstract: Recent advancements in single-stage evaporative cooling (EC) have showcased their effectiveness as an energy-efficient and sustainable air-conditioning (AC) solution. However, several challenges hinder the widespread adoption of EC in various applications. These challenges include climate sensitivity, substantial spatial requirements, and limitations in achieving desired output temperatures. To address these concerns, there has been a growing focus on integrating EC with solar energy (SE) systems. With traditional energy resources being depleted, the use of SE has gained prominence as a sustainable solution to meet future energy demands while mitigating environmental pollution. This paper presents a comprehensive review of hybrid EC–SE systems, aiming to elucidate the potential synergies, benefits, and challenges associated with this integration. The review explores the principles and mathematical approaches of various configurations of EC systems to assess their compatibility with SE sources. Furthermore, the review delves into the mathematical model of SE, encompassing both solar power generation and thermal collectors, with the aim of integrating it into the EC model. It delves into key aspects of energy consumption and performance, showcasing advancements in achieving higher efficiency and enhanced cooling capacity through the hybrid systems. Additionally, the review highlights research gaps in the existing literature, emphasizing the need for further exploration in this interdisciplinary field. In conclusion, this paper offers valuable insights into the potential of EC–SE systems to address energy and cooling requirements while promoting sustainable development.

Keywords: evaporative cooling; solar energy; mathematical models; hybrid system; sustainable development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/24/16907/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/24/16907/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:24:p:16907-:d:1301548

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().