The Application of Passive Downdraught Evaporative Cooling in China. A case Study: the Tuman River Resort Kashi, Xinjiang

Air conditioning is now recognized as a significant factor in global warming and climate change. With China accounting for a fifth of the world's population, it accounts for nearly 15 per cent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, making it second only to the United States. The JOULE research project into Passive Downdraught Evaporative Cooling (PDEC 1996-1999) concluded that in architectural and engineering terms a mixed mode approach (PDEC + back-up system) is technically and economically viable, and is competitive against conventional air-conditioning. This paper therefore is focuses on the development of a PDEC cooling system to replace the conventional air conditioning and reduce the cooling energy consumption in China. A project in Xinjiang, China is applying PDEC and Porous Ceramic Evaporators system to cooling a retail-hotel building. Two different passive evaporative cooling systems (PDEC & Porous Ceramic) are proposed for ventilation and cooling strategy. Analyze the regional climate and building characteristic in China revealed that there are huge potential for energy-saving in hot-dry regions of China. Considering the propitious results, the system could prove to considerably decrease energy consumption in wide range of buildings and provide a substitute to conventional air-conditioning.