Swamp cooling 20x20' EMT camp shade structure and what material for walls?

[mohnjeyers]

Hey!

I have a few questions as we plan our next burn... and I'm curious if someone has already done their research:

I'd like to cool a 20x20 shared camp space. My plan is to use this swamp cooler.

It provides 5300 cfm and says it can cool "1600 ft". I approximate it uses about 4 gals of water/hour at peak heat of the day.

I'm only looking to cool 400 square feet. Do you all think this swamp cooler would be adequate? The fact that it oscillates seems really nice.

Also, there has been a lot of discussion about what is the best shade material. Presuming strength isn't an issue (well lag bolted/tethered 1" EMT shade structure) is a tarp better than mesh/aluminet in the setting of a swamp cooler? There will be a 10'x8' air egress area that doubles as an entrance for campmates.

White tarps for walls? Silver tarps? Aluminet? Black mesh? Some sort of insulated material? Radiant silver attic liner? I've heard/seen many ideas, but haven't heard convincing arguments for shade structures that are also being actively cooled by a large swamp cooler. I know some wise man who studies HVAC/thermodynamics of heat exchange will have the answer right off the top of his head... hoping that wise man is reading this post!

OK, thank you for your help!!!

[Popeye]

There is so much wrong with this question, you need to do some research before asking. Suggest you read Figjams thread, yes it is a long one but it answers all the questions you should have asked before you posted.
In short evaporative cooling does not work like an air conditioner. Start with an evaporative cooler should be positioned outside the space.

[Token]

I experienced this very gizmo at a wedding this summer … 100+ degrees that day at the vineyard.

It was OK. Made it bearable.

You have to be in the air path to feel the cooling.

Should work just fine on the Playa for a long tunnel-type setup, like a MonkeyHut.

Under a 20x20 … might be less optimal.

[mohnjeyers]

There is so much wrong with this question, you need to do some research before asking. Suggest you read Figjams thread, yes it is a long one but it answers all the questions you should have asked before you posted.
In short evaporative cooling does not work like an air conditioner. Start with an evaporative cooler should be positioned outside the space.

Popeye thank you so much for your help! By not linking, and just describing a thread, I have stumbled upon 140 pages of reading! This is exactly the poignant, brief answer I was hoping to get! Thank you so much!

It is a wonder how you surmised the swamp cooler was going to be placed inside the shade structure—that actually was not a question of mine—since you seem curious: I intend to have a hole cut in the shade structure wall for the purpose of cool moist air inlet with a large area for air egress. As one does with evaporative coolers!

Perhaps if there was a reference to a post in figjams thread, or a specific search term your advice and clearly superior knowledge could be better shared!

I’d be happy to hear any advice you all have on these topics whilst I wade through years of posts! Bullet style would be ok:

Bullet point example:

-Yea, that CFM will do, aim for X volume air refreshes/hr
-yes with a big enough air egress area a solid tarp will be good for keeping its cool moist contents in until the end of your shade structure where air egresses.
-reflective surfaces get dusty so it doesn’t really matter if you use them and then tend to absorb infrared heat more than white, just use white.
-I like X better because it is lighter/heavier/more robust/more economical/etc.

This type of help is SO SO useful!

Or!

‘I summarized the important parts of the 150 page figjam here in this link for you so I could help and because I am so knowledgeable! Have fun’


Happy burn!

[FIGJAM]

Assuming your structure is 10 ft tall, you'll have a complete air exchange in the space in under a minute, every minute.

I'd say use any tarps you want.

It won't matter with that much flow.

The wet pads in the cooler will filter dust out of the incoming air.

Cut down on the egress to create some positive pressure in the space and it will help keep the dust out!!!