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Any time an air conditioner breaks down can be frustrating, but in the middle of summer, it becomes even more inconvenient and uncomfortable. With temperatures and humidity soaring, offices, classrooms, retail locations, factory floors, and other commercial spaces can quickly become unbearably hot and stuffy, making it difficult to work or concentrate. Not only can this lead to physical discomfort and lack of productivity, but it can also have adverse effects on one's health.

Fortunately, there’s a solution. Portable cooling systems are versatile, convenient, and easy to install, making them a popular choice for those seeking relief from the heat. While portable systems are often used on a temporary basis, they can also serve as a viable long-term solution for unconditioned facilities such as factories and warehouses.

Short- and Long-Term Applications

SPECIAL EVENT: Besides emergencies, portable cooling equipment can be used for short-term projects and special events. (Courtesy of United CoolAir)

Portable cooling equipment is often used as a stopgap measure, while replacements or repairs are made to commercial mechanical systems, said Jonathan Seigler, North America general manager of rentals and Spot Coolers at Carrier. He noted that 1- to 5-ton units run on readily available building power, are stocked nationally, and can often be deployed as quickly as the same day.

“Portables are a good solution for equipment lead times and supplemental temperature control during seasonal highs and lows,” he said. “Traditionally, May to October is when there is an increase in seasonal rentals to support plant manufacturing.”

According to Seigler, the expansion of processing plants is also leading to an increased need for portable cooling systems, both on a temporary and permanent basis. In this application, portable systems help regulate temperature and humidity levels in the facilities. He added that OSHA mandates for cooling rooms are also increasing demand in the 1- to 5-ton range for mechanical contractors who need to keep workers cool.

Besides emergencies, portable cooling equipment can also be used for short-term projects, events, and other applications, said Joseph Szmajda, environmental control sales support at United CoolAir.

“More recent applications have been a long-term substitute for a hospital, school, or other facility while the customer is waiting for their permanent HVAC solution, as lead times for commercial equipment have grown to 50 to 80 weeks for a replacement rooftop unit to a computer room unit.”

Szmajda noted that his company has recently seen more permanent installations of portable cooling equipment in industrial applications for tempering the air in factories, warehouses, and other unconditioned environments.

Rob Turbeville, product manager of Cool-Space evaporative cooling at Big Ass Fans agrees, noting that in unconditioned facilities where traditional cooling cannot be added, portable equipment can be used to provide cooling stations for workers.

“Environmental health and safety (EHS) professionals are looking for ways to provide cooling stations that can be staged easily throughout the facility,” he said.

Indeed, portable cooling units can help mitigate the risks of heat stress for workers in buildings such as factories and warehouses, where it is challenging to install traditional cooling equipment, said David Retrum, sales manager for MovinCool.

“Process cooling is another application that can use portable air conditioners to cool manufacturing processes that generate heat and help increase productivity and efficiency,” said Retrum. “Supplemental cooling also provides additional cooling capacity, such as in a server room where a portable air conditioner supports a mission-critical area rather than upgrading the central system as server room needs change.”

IAQ/Dehumidification

In addition to providing cool air, traditional air conditioning equipment plays a significant role in the IAQ and dehumidification in a space, and end users often look to their portable equipment to do the same.

“Part of the function of air conditioners is to remove humidity from an environment (latent cooling), said Retrum. “Lowering temperature and humidity will help eliminate odors and prevent mold growth. MovinCool portable spot coolers draw in moist air and push dry air across a room for excellent moisture removal, as well as speeding up setting and curing times of drywall compound, grout, caulking, paints, and adhesives.”

By design, portable equipment has the capacity to remove humidity and latent heat through the refrigeration cycle, said Seigler. In addition, some equipment manufacturers have developed cooling units that incorporate IAQ features such as advanced filtration.

“There are also portable air purification systems, such as Carrier’s OptiClean dual-mode air scrubber and negative air machine, which do more than just clean the air in a space,” said Seigler. “Deployed quickly, these solutions are easy to use and can be placed in high traffic areas for visibility. This provides peace of mind to building occupants in a wide range of commercial applications, including K–12 classrooms, dental office exam rooms and open-air, temporary medical facilities.”

To promote a healthy environment, the media used in Big Ass Fans’ evaporative cooling units is Greenguard certified, which allows for low-VOC emission levels, said Turbeville.

“Many other evaporative cooling products use formaldehyde in the manufacturing process, which can produce an unpleasant odor for weeks during the initial break in period for of the product.”

Maintenance

As with any mechanical device, maintenance is an important aspect to have optimum performance and prolong the life cycle of a portable cooling unit, said Szmajda.

“Regular maintenance of filters, cleaning coils and following good operational practices will promote reliability, prime performance, and increase the life of the unit.”

Turbeville also stresses the need to regularly clean the media to ensure proper cooling capacity of portable evaporative cooling units.

“The media acts as a large particulate filter for the space, picking up pollen and other particulars from the air,” he said. “Depending on the water quality being used, there is also potential for scale to be built up, which needs to be cleaned off. The addition of a cleaning tablet is also recommended to provide optimal performance. Prior to the peak seasons of spring and summer, it is also recommended that the units be cleaned to ensure no debris has fallen into the water reservoir, potentially clogging the pump.”

New Technology

While portable cooling equipment is a mature technology, there are still advances being made. For example, MovinCool’s new connectivity features provide a significant enhancement to portable cooling unit management, said Retrum.

“This is of great benefit for remotely monitoring fleets of units, increasing efficiencies in mission-critical environments such as server rooms and data centers, and delivering greater visibility and convenience to commercial and industrial spot cooling.”

Connectivity is also a feature on new machines from Spot Coolers, which are equipped with a built-in communication module and antenna allowing users to remotely operate, monitor and track the unit’s location, said Seigler.

“All models can send users electronic notifications, including if the reservoir is full or service is due,” he said. “Connectivity and monitorization are important for customers with large footprints where equipment is commonly lost, such as universities.”

The next step for portable evaporative coolers will be to find ways to further reduce water consumption, said Turbeville.

“As water becomes a critical resource, the ability to use less while providing the same level of cooling will be critical.”

There will also be a few challenges for portable cooling equipment manufacturers in the near future, thanks to the upcoming refrigerant transition and the new electrical code, said Szmajda.

“Changing to a slightly flammable (A2L) refrigerant presents many new challenges including handling and transporting these units,” he said. “The new electrical code will also place more demand on manufacturers. These requirements will add complexity to the manufacturing process, while adding a tremendous amount of new costs.”

Still, with their compact size and efficient performance, portable cooling systems will continue to be a popular short- and long-term solution for those seeking respite from hot and humid conditions.