The heart of OASys is the Indirect Cooling Module (ICM) which first cools incoming fresh air without adding moisture. The air then passes through the Direct Cooling Module (DCM), is cleansed and humidity is optimized. The cooled air enters the space directly or through conventional duct configurations and exits by roof vents.

The small amount of water used in this process is renewed periodically by a self-purging reservoir. This waste water can be used to irrigate landscaping or garden areas. At low speed the system cools, cleans, and circulates air using no more power than a single 100w light bulb.

Do OASys systems waste water?

We recognize that water is a precious resource in the arid southwest. All evaporative coolers use water to provide cooling. However, studies have shown that when the total resource requirements of power generation, transmission and distribution are considered evaporative cooling actually saves water in the aggregate. That is because large quantities of water are consumed in power generation. The 80%+ energy savings of evaporative cooling more than offset the water consumption. See for example, Consumptive Water Use for U.S. Power Production

Water. Evaporative coolers use water, but well-designed, modern coolers use a batch flushing process to clean the sump rather than a continuous bleeding technique. The result is better cleaning and substantially lower water use. Modern coolers in efficient homes in the Southwest use an average of 5,750 gallons of water per year in the Southwest, about 3.3% of average annual residential water use. This amount of water costs $5 to $20 per cooling season. However, since evaporative coolers save on the order of 3,600 kWh per year, about 1,810 gallons of water are saved at the power station on average in the Southwest, for a net water use of evaporative cooling of 3,940 gallons. (Stateby- state details are shown in “New Evaporative Cooling Systems: An Emerging Solution for Homes in Hot Dry Climates with Modest Cooling Loads.”)
SWEEP Evaporative Cooling Policy Options

For an in-depth analysis of water use in evaporative cooling please see the report writing by SWEEP: Evaporative Cooling Analysis of Water Use

WaterSense

The Environmental Protection agency recognizes both the importance of water conservation and the importance of energy conservation through the use of evaporative cooling. They are finalizing the WaterSense mark which will certify water conservation:

3.8.1 Evaporative cooling systems – Evaporative cooling systems shall use a maximum of 3.5 gallons (13.3 liters) of water per ton-hour of cooling when adjusted to maximum water use. Blowdown shall be based on time of operation, not to exceed three times in a 24-hour period of operating (every eight hours). Blowdown shall be mediated by conductivity or basin water temperature-based controllers. The reservoir discharge outlet should be easily visible so the user can see when the refill valve is leaking. Once-through or single-pass cooling systems, systems with continuous blowdown/bleedoff, and systems with timer-only mediated blowdown management shall not be used to meet these criteria

Revised Draft Water-Efficient Single-Family New Home Specification-WaterSense, US EPA

Extensive lab testing for example by Pacific Gas and Electric shows that our IDEC systems operate well within the 3.5 gallon per ton-hour of cooling requirement. We anticipate that when the WaterSense program is initiated our systems will qualify if applicable. Laboratory Evaluation of the OASys Indirect/Direct Evaporative Cooling Unit

How much water will be used by my system?

Water use will depend on ambient conditions and will vary according to your geographic location, size of unit, and hours of use. We provide software that will enable you to calculate your water use once this site specific information is determined.

How do you avoid scaling, mineralization and biological growth in the wet areas of the system?

The most effective way to handle these challenges and to reduce resulting maintenance costs is a timed purge function. This feature enables the unit to keep dissolved minerals and solids below the known concentration at which they will begin to accumulate. Also, this feature purges sump water before any biological growth can occur. However, because the purge can be set according to local requirements no water is wasted unnecessarily, for example as would be found in a bleed valve function.

Southern California Edison and the Western Cooling Efficiency Center are currently conducting extended life cycle testing on our units. This report will be out later in the year. However, data already collected indicates that even with the purge function disabled for two summers of extensive use there was minimal degradation of performance. When the purge function is set and working properly units will have no such build-up and will require minimal maintenance, essentially consisting of winterization.

In some higher humidity locations we have used UV to control bacteriological growth. This is an available option, however we do not believe it is necessary in the Western United States. We will work with customers to ensure that all sustainability concerns and requirements are met.

Why Maintenance Is Important

Correct maintenance will make your cooler last longer and work more efficiently. Clean and disinfect the cooler every six months at least. Prevent build-up of sediment, fungus and algae inside the unit to ensure good air hygiene. Where water is allowed to stagnate in the basin, the conditions may encourage fungi and bacteria to grow. Windblown dust and pollen dirties the water and forms a sludge in the basin that can block the pump, filter pads or water distribution system. If sludge, foul water or other water quality problems develop, the cooler will need to be cleaned more often.

Disinfecting the Cooler

With the fan isolated and the pump circulating water around the unit, add 5 millilitres of household bleach (that has 4 per cent available chlorine), per 5 litres of circulating water. This will give you a concentration of approximately 20 ppm of ‘free chlorine’.

• Allow the disinfected water to circulate for at least 30 minutes.
• Dump the water and refill with fresh water.
• Circulate for 5 minutes and again dump the water, to remove any chlorine residue.
• Repeat previous step.
• Refill with water and begin normal running.
• Check that the equipment is working correctly.

Cleaning the Cooler Before Summer

• Disconnect all power to the unit.
• Remove external weatherproof covers.
• Clean all waterways and sump.
• Reattach water supply to unit, open water inlet valve to allow unit to fill with fresh water.
• Disinfect the unit.
• Wash your hands when you finish.

Winterization

• At the end of the cooling season, dry out the unit completely.
• To prevent freezing of the cooler's water line, turn off water supply to the unit, disconnect the water line from the cooler and blow out the water between the inlet and float valve. This is the most important winterizing step. If you can only bring yourself to do one thing, do this.
• At thermostat, change mode to MC (Manual Cool). In MC mode be sure PUMP is off (indicator next to PUMP is off) turn Dump pump on to empty the sump of water. Press the DUMP button on the thermostat until the DUMP indicator light turns on. The dump pump will not completely empty the sump. When the water draining slows to a trickle turn the Dump pump off by pressing the DUMP button on thermostat again. The indicator light turns out. If you run the pump on empty too long, it will burn out.
• At thermostat, change mode to FA (Fan Only) mode. Run fan on F3 speed (High) until no water is visible in sump.
• Disconnect power to the unit.
• Loosen all sediment and slime in the basin with a brush, vacuum out.

Who is Speakman CRS?

Speakman CRS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Speakman Company of Newcastle Delaware, the nation's oldest manufacturer of plumbing fixtures, founded in 1869. Visit our website: www.speakmancompany.com

SPEAKMAN STRATEGIC INTENT
Speakman Company will continue to pioneer and foster adoption of Innovations, which improve the quality of life for members of our global community. As a business organization we will unleash our Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship to: Continuously leverage our established Brands to accelerate worldwide adoption of our Heritage Technology - Water Bearing Innovations that deliver differentiated hygienic, therapeutic and life saving benefits our Global Customers will desire. Systems Integrate rapidly developing Innovations in Clean, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Generation Technologies to spawn high natural growth potential businesses.

OASys units can be installed on an outdoor pad, on a frame or on the roof. The easiest installation is a “box for box” replacement of an existing single stage cooler.

For more information on installation requirements please see the OASys Owner's Operating Manual
> Download the OASys Owner's Manual. Click Here.