• Energy Research

AbstractBrazilian countryside has well‐defined dry seasons that are mainly characterized by low relative humidity. The warm, dry air provides a thermal cooling effect when it interacts with wet porous structures (psychrometric effect). Depending on temperature conditions and relative humidity, it is possible to achieve up to 18.0 K reduction in the temperature of the structure, caused by water evaporation. Thus, the objective of this study was to propose and numerically investigate a low cost and sustainable air conditioning system by combining the potential of warm, dry air and characteristics of the flow within cyclones covered with thin wet cotton fabric. A validated mathematical model was developed, and the numerical results indicate that the cyclonic‐psychrometric system can provide up to 7.0 K reduction in a 20.0 m2 room on a warm day (305.0 K) with low relative humidity (20.0%). Energy balances and technical estimates showed that the electric power consumed by the proposed system would represent only 19.8% of the power required by a conventional 18,000 Btu air conditioner to promote the same reduction of temperature. This energy‐saving would have a direct and positive impact on the budget of users, especially those with low income and that live in dry regions.