Portable air-conditioning units are nothing new. They have largely been used for emergency applications when an indoor environment is in need of immediate cooling after a building’s air conditioning system has shut down or failed.

But several manufacturers are beginning to market their portable air conditioning units as more than just a solution for temporary and emergency cooling. Many of the products on display at the 2003 Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition (AHR Expo) were sporting new looks and recent upgrades, and manufacturers were supplying new reasons to use the products in primary applications.

Eric Moe, regional manager for Spot Coolers, introduced AHR Expo attendees to some of the new products which the company will begin to supply.

Hot And Cold

Spot Coolers(Boca Raton, Fla.) noted that it has been supplying portable A/C units to businesses for over 20 years. Some of Spot Coolers’ services include sales, rentals, and emergency services. Now Spot Coolers is offering some new products to its customers.

One of the latest products includes the OceanAire (Morton Grove, Ill.) ConvertibleAire unit. The ConvertibleAire is a portable heat pump style unit, delivering both spot cooling and spot heating. Spot Coolers carriers a variety of portable heat pump units in varying sizes and outputs.

Also new from Oceanaire is the ArcticAire unit, which is ideal for computer rooms or other locations that need lower-than-normal temperatures, the company said. The unit has a six-speed automatic fan control, and backward curved motorized impellers, enabling the system to deliver large volumes of air at low noise levels.

United CoolAir (York, Pa.) has developed a wide variety of portable air conditioning units, as well as portable heating units. The company displayed some of its units and provided information on a number of their applications.

United CoolAir’s cooling units come in vertical sizes from five to 25 tons and horizontal in three to 12 tons. These portable units can be used for everything from outdoor events to institutional applications to industrial buildings.

The company also provides spot heating, with its Portable Electric Heater. Units range in size from 2 to 50 kW. The unit can be used both indoors and outdoors, and the air supply can either be ducted or free-blown.

Office Cooling

MovinCool(Long Beach, Calif.) showcased two new products at the expo. The company said that spot cooling can be a cost-effective option for many businesses. Two of MovinCool’s units, the Office Pro 10 and the Office Pro 18, are the latest systems from the company designed to cool office spaces.

These latest products join MovinCool’s existing line of Office Pro units. According to the company, the Office Pro 10 was developed to meet the growing trend toward smaller, closet-size telecom and server rooms. The model has a more compact design compared to other Office Pro models and has a balanced airflow system. Other highlights include fully automated operation with digital controls and a full-function remote.

The Office Pro 18 uses a standard 115-volt power source, which the company said helps provide maximum spot air conditioning for many applications, including computer rooms. The unit can operate automatically after hours and during weekends.

Telecommunications facilities and office spaces are the target market for AirPac’s (Front Royal, Va.) newest portable air conditioning unit. The AirPac CoolIt2600 was on display at the show, and it joins the company’s current line of portable systems. AirPac believes that its CoolIt line is also ideal for retail and restaurant spaces, lab and factory facilities, and institutional facilities. The CoolIt2000 line is also designed for outdoor use, such as at sporting events.

The CoolIt2000 series has a 13,500 Btu capacity and uses R-22.

Evaporative Cooling

Tradewinds Evaporative Coolers(Little Rock, Ark.) introduced its Gadabout Mobile Evaporative Cooler. The company said that the system can be used in various applications, including garages, patios, warehouses, and recreational areas.

The unit uses evaporative cooling as a method of converting hot air into cool air through the process of evaporating water. The Gadabout will pull hot, dry air through wet pads using a fan or blower. As the water evaporates from the pads, heat is removed from the air and the portable system produces cool air.

The Gadabout Mobile system comes in three separate models with increasing cfm and water capacity. The company said that the units do not require a water connection and have a large reservoir to deliver water into the system.

Publication date: 02/24/2003