There are a few minor problems. Mainly power in, power out and evaporation. Most common designs call for a water pump to circulate the pater reserve, as passive capillary action is too slow and does not allow for enough air flow so furnace air filters are used and sit in some water at the bottom of the box, the capillary action allows one inch of movement vertically. filling a 5 by 14 inch box with them and putting a computer fan on either end might due. I do not know of power consumption and where to purchase cheap solar panels.
Suggestions on if it would work, sources for solar panels and pumps. Please and thx.
In relation to power consumption, the 2 units I have
A Convair Westwind and the Floater Cooler show 65-90w which fits with my
memory of the Convair which I’ve had for about 12 years and was avertised as
using less energy than a 100w light bulb.
Evaporative coolers work fine in Vancouver, I’ve been using them for the last
12-15 years here, they just don’t work as efficiently since we have higher
humidity than the desert.
I have passive dirp system, it seems that new users can’t post pics so I can’t show it. It’s a 4 by 4 by 14 inch box, with furnace filters, two computer fans and another box of the same dimensions with water and a camp towel acting as a wick on top. I will work on determining the rate of evaporation vs airflow configuration of filters. I purchased the smallest water pump but the 12v .5 amp solar cells couldn’t move it. thinking of just using batteries and a switch for it if the slow gravity approach is insufficient.