Using Alternative Materials to Wood Flacks to improve the Efficiency of Evaporative Cooler@@@استخدام مواد بديلة لرقائق الخشب ( القش ) تزيد من كفاءة المكيف الصحراوي

A BSTRACT . This study was intended to investigate the possibility of using an alternative material to substitute wood flacks (aspen wood) to improve the efficiency of evaporative cooler. The alternative material was supposed to be economically competitive and gives the best cooling efficiency. The materials used in the present investigation were Celdek paper and Luffa sponge (Luffa aegyptiaca). Celdek paper gave a cooling efficiency of 76% accompanied with an air flow rate of 1.73 m 3 /s and a mean heat transfer flow of 22.83 KJ/s. Results showed that the pressed luffa sponge of 175 mg/cm 3 density and 2x3x3cm dimensions was the most appropriate material to substitute the wood flacks. This material gave a cooling efficiency of 96% accompanied with an air flow rate of 1.01 m 3 /s, and a mean heat transfer flow of 17.72 KJ/s.