Chinese Manufacturer of Drycoolers with Adiabatic Panels

Chinese Manufacturer of Drycoolers with Adiabatic Panels

Drycoolers with adiabatic panels (often called "adiabatic drycoolers") are advanced heat exchange systems designed to overcome the key limitation of traditional drycoolers—reduced cooling efficiency in high-temperature, low-humidity environments. By integrating adiabatic panels (or adiabatic cooling stages) with a standard drycooler, they enhance heat rejection performance while retaining the core advantage of drycoolers: no water consumption for evaporative cooling (or minimal consumption, depending on design).

An adiabatic drycooler combines two functional components:

A traditional drycooler core: Consists of fin tube heat exchange coils (typically copper-aluminum) and fans that force ambient air over the coils to reject heat from the process fluid (e.g., glycol, water-glycol mixtures, or industrial coolants).

Adiabatic panels/stages: Mounted upstream of the drycooler’s coil (i.e., between the ambient air inlet and the coil). These panels are designed to pre-cool the incoming ambient air adiabatically (without heat transfer to/from the surroundings) before it reaches the heat exchange coil.

The adiabatic stage is modular and controllable: It only activates when ambient temperatures exceed a set threshold (e.g., 25–30°C), ensuring water is used only when necessary.

A water recirculation system (tank, pump, filter) is integrated to minimize water loss—only evaporated water is replenished (no blowdown, unlike cooling towers).

The operation of an adiabatic drycooler follows a two-step heat rejection process, triggered by ambient temperature:

Step 1: Adiabatic Pre-Cooling (When Ambient Temp Is High)

When ambient air temperature rises above the drycooler’s "efficiency threshold" (e.g., >28°C), the adiabatic panel system activates:

Water is pumped to the adiabatic panel (sprayed over pads or atomized via nozzles).

Ambient air is drawn through the panel by the drycooler’s fans. As air passes through, water evaporates, absorbing latent heat from the air—this reduces the air’s temperature by 5–15°C (depending on humidity: more effective in low-humidity climates).

The pre-cooled air then flows over the drycooler’s fin coil.

Step 2: Dry Heat Rejection (Core Function)

Inside the coil, the warm process fluid (e.g., glycol from a chiller or industrial process) circulates. Heat from the fluid is transferred through the coil walls and fins to the pre-cooled air.

The now-cooled process fluid returns to the process (e.g., to cool machinery, data centers, or HVAC systems).

The warm air (after heat exchange) is exhausted to the atmosphere by the fans.

Step 3: Deactivation of Adiabatic Stage (Low Ambient Temp)

When ambient temperature is low enough (e.g., <25°C), the adiabatic panel system shuts off. The unit operates as a standard drycooler, using only ambient air to reject heat—no water is consumed.

Adiabatic drycoolers are widely used in industries where reliable, water-efficient cooling is critical. Key applications include:

HVAC & Building Cooling: Cooling water-glycol mixtures for air conditioning systems in commercial buildings, hotels, and hospitals—especially in hot, dry regions (e.g., the Middle East, Southwest U.S.).

Industrial Process Cooling: Cooling process fluids (e.g., glycol, oil) for manufacturing, plastic extrusion, metalworking, and chemical plants, where high ambient temps risk process overheating.

Data Centers: Cooling server racks via liquid cooling loops (glycol-based). Data centers require 24/7 cooling, and adiabatic drycoolers reduce energy use and water consumption vs. traditional CRAC (Computer Room Air Conditioner) units.

Renewable Energy: Cooling inverters and transformers in solar farms or wind turbines, where equipment operates outdoors in extreme temperatures.

Refrigeration: Supporting industrial refrigeration systems (e.g., cold storage, food processing) by cooling the refrigerant or secondary coolant (glycol).