This presentation is intended as an introduction to evaporative cooling systems. It will address the role of evaporative cooling in reducing mechanical cooling requirement and consequently reducing the continuous increase in global energy shortage, rising energy cost, and environmental issues. This will be followed by a discussion on the fundamental concepts, design, and types of evaporative cooling systems, as well as application of evaporative cooling to commercial/residential buildings and computer room or data center. For those attending the dinner meeting, the presentation will conclude with a tour of the Purdue University Calumet Computer Room and the evaporative cooling facility.

George Nnanna is a professor and the head of the mechanical engineering department, and the Francis and Elsie Meyer Named Professorship and director of the Purdue University Calumet Water Institute. His scholarly work has resulted in more than seventy refereed technical papers in journals and conference proceedings in the areas of HVAC&R, membrane systems, transport phenomena in micro-and nano-porous media and applied optics; U.S. patent application on an opto-chemical sensor; and a recognition of Fulbright Specialist Award from the U.S. Department of State. His research has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Energy, and industries.

He earned his Ph.D. and Master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington, and his Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Texas Tech University.