SBS09b1 passive cooling stack ventilation VL

[@mattfoley6082]

I visited Zion N.P. in summer 2002 or so and was fascinated by the cool air coming down from the towers into the visitor center. They are downdraft cooling towers. There are pads at the top that are sprayed with water. The cool moist air then sinks down the chimney and into the center. I stood next to the "fireplace" opening and felt this wonderful cool air coming out. I live in PA where it's too humid for that method to work.

[@margaretrobertson8848]

Thank you for sharing your experience there. That is very cool!

[@PedroOjeda]

Do these evaporatize towers work in areas with high humidity in the air? A lot of these examples are deserts.

[@margaretrobertson8848]

Good observation. Because warm air rises, this stack shape will still pull in cooler air and release warmer air out the top. (It's slow movement, however.) In dry climates, water can be inserted at the top of the tower, making a cooling tower, where it evaporates and then cooler air falls. So cool air is flowing down, rather than up.

[@peterpiper5300]

I wonder if this can be applied to multi story smaller, compact houses in the city. Wish you can show samples. Thanks.

[@margaretrobertson8848]

It probably could. Try doing a google image search, and you will probably find a bunch of examples.

[@shirleylenish7278]

I believe Zion National Park Visitor Center towers are cooling towers

[@margaretrobertson8848]

Yes, they are!