Alternative Air-Conditioning Options for Developing Countries

Abstract

This study assesses the potential selection of efficient air-conditioning (AC) and cooling systems in order to avoid excess power consumption, mitigation of harmful refrigerants generated by the existing AC systems. Several varieties of active and passive air-conditioning systems i.e. heating ventilating air-conditioning (HVAC), vapor compression air-conditioning (VCAC) conventional direct evaporative cooling (DEC) and indirect evaporative cooling (IEC)  and desiccant air-conditioning (DAC) systems are under practice for the cooling and dehumidification. The storage of agricultural products mainly based on product individual characteristics i.e. respiration rate, transpiration rate and moisture content of that product. Variant ambient air conditions and the type of application are the main parameters for the choice of air-conditioning system to get optimum performance. The DAC system subsidize the coefficient of performance (COP) in humid regions, coastal ranges of developing countries e.g. Karachi and Gawadar (Pakistan) with hot humid climatic conditions. In similar way, hottest regions of the country such as Sibbi, Jacobabad and Multan perform better results when incorporates with M-cycle evaporative cooling system. Variation in ambient air conditions directly affect the cooling load and the choice of sustainable air-conditioning system