Įxternally mounted evaporative cooling devices ( car coolers) were used in some automobiles to cool interior air-often as aftermarket accessories -until modern vapor-compression air conditioning became widely available. Passive evaporative cooling techniques in buildings have been a feature of desert architecture for centuries, but Western acceptance, study, innovation, and commercial application is all relatively recent. Goettl noticed how evaporative cooling technology works in arid climates, speculated that a combination unit could be more effective, and invented the 'High Efficiency Astro Air Piggyback System', a combination refrigeration and evaporative cooling air conditioner. In 1986, University of Arizona researchers W. Thompson built a passive evaporative cooling tower, and performance data from this experimental facility in Tucson, Arizona became the foundation of evaporative cooling tower design guidelines developed by Baruch Givoni. Physical principles Įvaporative coolers lower the temperature of air using the principle of evaporative cooling, unlike typical air conditioning systems which use vapor-compression refrigeration or absorption refrigeration. This model works when the car is not moving or when it is travelling at a slow speed.Evaporative cooling is the conversion of liquid water into vapor using the thermal energy in the air, resulting in a lower air temperature. About a gallon or 3.8 liters of water cooled the car for about 100 to 150 miles (160 to 240 kilometers). This would only work if the car moved forward since the air would force its way into the tube. Ram air models were mounted on the side windows. It came in different models ranging from fan-powered to ram-air models. The cool air would blow into the passenger compartment through a right angle vent on the central unit. After the shavings were soaked in water, the air was forced through the unit, and the water evaporated, producing a cooling effect. There was one model that used balsa-wood shavings in the unit as a pad. Various classic and antique cars, from Model As to Hot Rods, used the car coolers. This was similar to the canister-style vacuum. In the 1930s and 1960s, many cars came with this accessory.

Since 1930, the technology has been a popular aftermarket accessory. Different technologies of car swamp cooler:

Vintage swamp cooler