Air cooler vs. air conditioner

Differences in cooling with mobile air coolers and air conditioners

Some basics about cooling technology for a better understanding:

With air coolers and air conditioners the situation is much like that of a bike and a car. At first sight, both seem to serve the same purpose, yet technically these are completely different systems that allow not direct comparison with one another.

Air coolers, such as the PAE 25, are direct evaporation air coolers and unlike air conditioners do not come equipped with a cooling unit (like a fridge). Air coolers use the natural principle of water evaporation to cool the room air. Everyone knows this cooling effect, for example from sweat evaporation or cooler air in the vicinity of water falls, rivers and lakes.

A principally similar method is often applied out of doors (outdoor cafés, marquees etc.). A fine jet of water is guided in front of the air current of a fan resulting in an ultra-fine spray mist. During this dispersal to create a sort of atomized spray the droplets evaporate and in doing so cool the air slightly by a few degrees. The result is a more agreeable climate in this bedrizzled area.

Practical knowledge concerning cooling techniques

Using air coolers for cooling is an entirely natural and cost-effective method not requiring the same vast amount of energy an air conditioning system spends on this process.

But on no account does an air cooler equal an air conditioner that generates cold air regardless of ambient temperature and humidity. An air conditioner produces dehumidified, in other words dry cold air. Making use of the principle of evaporation cooling an air cooler on the other hand generates cold, but humid air. Depending on the humidity and temperature level air coolers can cool down the exhaust air by a few degrees Celsius – regardless of model or design.

Air coolers are better suited for use in small rooms with a dry climate, since the level of efficiency cannot be increased as easily as that of compressor-operated air conditioning systems. Moreover, every user should be aware that air coolers simply cannot cool down a room from 30 °C to 23 °C.

Air coolers operate most effectively in rooms filled with dry air and can only cause a temperature drop to the point of saturation. The devices operate by way of direct cooling, i.e. they directly supply the air with moisture. This means that for process-related reasons the humidity level in the room is increased perceptibly, which is an effect not necessarily desired. During the wintertime an increase of the humidity level is absolutely desirable due to the dry air in heated rooms. Therefore air coolers can be used all year round: as evaporation air cooler in the summer, as humidifier in the winter.

A great advantage of air coolers is their lack of an exhaust air hose for hot air discharge as all mobile air conditioning systems have. There is no need for hose installations through windows, doors or walls. That renders the air coolers extremely flexible and easy-to-handle, since you only have to set them up and switch them on – irrespective of the whereabouts.

The physical principle of adiabatic cooling using mobile air coolers. The honeycomb filter soaked with water cools down the warm room air.

Conclusion: Air coolers are efficient and useful tools providing refreshment

Refresh and cool the air to an agreeable level with the integrated air filter and the convenient ventilation function!
Climate-friendly operation: utilize a natural principle, contain neither cooling unit nor chemical cooling agent!
Particularly energy-efficient with extremely low operating costs!
No exhaust air hose needed! Hence no limitations regarding the set-up.
Allow cooling capacity increase by use of ice packs or ice cubes!
Suitable for year-round operation! Air cooler in the summer, humidifier in the winter.

There is no such thing as the one and only ideal cooling technique! As diverse as the parameters such as room size, cooling method, degree of comfort, installation work and, of course, budget may be, as particular can the individual perfect solution be.

It is for this very reason that Trotec has numerous high-quality devices working on different cooling techniques available for you. This way you will always find the device suitable for your personal requirements and benefit from the best value-for-money ratio offered by a leading brand supplier!

Increasing the humidity level to 50 % reduces the risk of transmission of viruses

Medical specialists have evaluated research findings relating to the resistance of viruses (e.g. SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV or SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19), influenza) to air humidity. These findings have revealed that the humidity level has a crucial impact on the infectivity of germ droplets. Dry room air with a relative humidity content of less than 40 % lets tiny droplets infected with influenza or cold viruses dry up. This preserves pathogens so that they remain infectious for a very long time. In the optimum relative humidity range between 40 and 60 % aerosols only shrink so far that the salt concentration in the aerosol core increases, causing the germs and microorganisms contained to be killed. This minimizes the risk of an infection with influenza and cold viruses.

Medical specialists emphasize that we are able to reduce the risk of infection by increasing the humidity level in buildings. In this way, increasing the humidity level to approx. 50 % by humidification will reduce the risk of transmission. Moreover, the humidified air improves the body's defence situation by more efficient cleaning of the air passages and an improved immune defence. In modern buildings with a watertight building envelope, central heating and ventilation systems, these limit values can often not be complied with in everyday life without active humidification. This is where devices with a humidification function come in to provide assistance.

Cool facts in place of hot air!

Others pass air coolers off as air conditioners, we provide the big picture. Before purchase make sure to get an overview of device differences, functional principles and possible applications.

Trotec, your climate expert, has compiled the most important facts in a reader-friendly overview! Direct link to the “Practical knowledge concerning air conditioning“ …

Air cooler vs. humidifier

The principle employed by evaporation humidifiers and air coolers are no different. Both make use of the cold evaporation technique. Through a filter dry air, humidified by natural evaporation, is given off to the room. How can the two be distinguished then? An air cooler is usually designed for the mobile application in various rooms and has laterally adjustable air outlet openings to aim the damp and cold air current in the desired direction. Normally, air coolers are also equipped with a special compartment for ice cubes or ice packs. During the wintertime an air cooler can also be used as humidifier – with or without cooled water. The other way round a humidifier with ice cubes in the water can achieve the same moistening cooling effect as an air cooler.

All air coolers in direct comparison:

To find the air cooler which exactly meets your requirements, please consult the concise overview of all air coolers of the PAE series from Trotec, which we're providing to you here so that you can compare them directly to each other.

Models which you do not wish to include in your comparison can be easily dismissed with only one click.

Technical data by comparison