Steve B wrote:

I live in DRY XXTREME SW Utah.

I have two 20' x 8' containers. Inbetween them is 16' of space. I am
enclosing the ends of the space with covered gates, and putting a roof on
the whole 1320 sf.

I want to put evaporative coolers in there. I see them that are stationary,
and pull outside air and blow it inside. I also see roll around evaporative
coolers.

Which one works better? It seems that pulling 105 degree air from the
outside and cooling it would only give so much of a temperature drop.
Pulling inside air, say 85 degree and cooling it might work better. BUT,
the inside air would be humidified somewhat, and I don't know if the
evaporative effect would be as great.


In far SW KS; similar temp's and RH in the low double or single digits
often as well. 106F yesterday...

Cooling drop is dependent on the volume of water you can evaporate;
bigger pad area/higher air flow--more water evaporated. That'll be the
primary difference you'll see between portables and a stationary unit.
Those are purely volume; the actual enthalpy of evaporation is dependent
on the conditions as noted but isn't _that_ variable w/ the kinds of
differences you'll see. Unless the containers are closed so you're not
moving any air (and I'd think that would make them uninhabitable
entirely), I doubt the actual RH increase will be sufficient to even be
able to tell it.

I'd recommend to first put light-color on roofs(maybe even an awning
roof to shade them???) and then some insulation; those will do more good
so that the swamp coolers at least have a chance. In dry climates thay
can be pretty effective. Depending on the shop usage, another
alternative could be the misters used in ag barns, etc., ... they can
be pretty inexpensive and plumbed into the ceiling out of way and
basically ignored after. Not good idea in a precision metal shop,
though, but could help a general work area if don't overdo them. We've
got 'em in farrowing house and barn; they don't actually put out enough
to feel damp in the higher ceiling areas but are in the hog house (on
purpose).

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