Natural Water Cooler: An Innovative, Energy-Efficient, and Low-Cost Solution for Cooling Water

In the scorching heat of the Indian summer, access to cool and clean drinking water is of utmost importance. However, rural areas often face the challenge of erratic power supply, making traditional water-cooling solutions ineffective. Existing water coolers in the market are expensive, electricity-dependent, and use harmful refrigerants for cooling. To address these issues a natural water cooler (NWC) was developed which is a low-cost, energy-efficient, and eco-friendly solution based on the principle of heat exchange. This present study describes the design, operation, and advantages of a natural water-cooling system (NWC) that uses solar PV technology, copper coils covered with viscose fabric, and a DC fan. The NWC lowers water temperature by 6 to 10 °C by using copper coils encased in viscose fabric and operated by a solar-powered fan. The maximum efficiency of about 65% is reported for a dry bulb temperature of around 41 °C and RH of 17% for the considered time duration. Incorporating a water filtration system into the natural water cooler ensures the delivery of clean and safe drinking water, solving public health issues sometimes connected to improperly maintained cooling systems. The use of copper coil in the system also brings additional health benefits due to its antimicrobial properties.