Can I make an A/C out of clay???

In this video I attempt to build an air conditioner out of clay! This is actually a traditional technique used to keep water cool in hot climates, but creative folks today are trying to rework this ancient water-cooling method into passive air cooling systems! The best part about this is they use no electricity, so are a eco-friendly solution to keeping your home cool in summer. Let me know what you think! Would you ever use this in your home?

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[mouseheadstudios]

Such an interesting video. Thank you for the no shade to those of us who use AC. My AC broke a little over 2 weeks ago and living where I do that is just torture. I'll be glad when we get it fixed hopefully next week. I think before those of us with AC can cut back, we need big companies to cut back on what they are doing so the planet can start cooling down, and then we'd all need the AC less. We used to actually have Fall and Winter where I live. Now we just have Summer and Slightly Less Hot Than Summer. I miss snow so much. I really hope we can start reversing what has been done to the planet. Hope everyone is staying cool as they can for now. ♥

[guycxz]

Just a couple points about these coolers: Due to the method of operation being evaporation these coolers increase the humidity in the air, this has the effect of making the room feel hotter than it is, and in situations where there isn't much air flowing into the room and there is a lot of heat going in it can feel even hotter than it would have been without the cooler. Another effect is the lessening effectiveness of the cooler itself as both the temperature decreases and humidity increases, eventually stopping to work completely if and when the dew point reaches ambient temperature, otherwise known as 100% humidity. All of that is not to say that these coolers are bad, just that they are situational, and generally they work better outside.
In my city the temperature this noon was 35C with 66% humidity, which would make the dew point somewhere around 26C. This is the absolute lowest temperature this cooler could achieve here, and with the increase in humidity it would feel quite terrible. And indeed when working under similar circumstances and using an evaporative cooler with a massive fan there was barely a difference, even the flow coming out of it barely felt colder. A desiccant based system would work better, but be a lot more complicated to install and maintain.
However, another city in my country regularly sees temperatures of around 42-43C throughout the summer with heatwaves reaching as high as 49C, except with humidity at around 15-20%, which would make the dew point somewhere around 10-20C(it would be closer to 10 in most circumstances). This makes such coolers extremely effective there.

[osamsal]

Growing up in Egypt, we used to have those clay jars where water remained cool, despite high temperature. It was so refreshing drinking such cold water in hot summer days, without refrigeration.

[peppaska]

If you don't use them as AC you might consider partially bury near a tree or plant and using them as a water reservoir for the plants :)

[brycecaplan]

As someone with a science background, my suggestion is to put them on an outside wall like what you show in the beginning. As you have it now, the heat goes from inside the clay (the water) to outside the clay (the room). Currently, you just have water coolers in the middle of the room. If you make the room the inside of the clay, heat will move outside of the room.

[vanissaberg]

Maybe not the best as a cooler (unless you live in a very dry climate where swamp coolers are actually effective), but these would make great little indoor humidifiers for a plant room! Having a fan on them to increase the evaporative effect would also help.

[NickCombs]

I would've definitely tried this when I was in Arizona!
Here's how I would redesign it:
- Smaller tubes for more surface area. Use a small pipe to help them keep their shape.
- Arranged with a small gap between each tube into a panel (think radiator)
- Make the base hollow so that filling one tube flows into the rest of them
- Add another connecting piece across the tops for support
- Make a small hole at the top for filling the tubes. Closed with a clay lid or a leftover wine cork
- Sized to fit on a shaded window's sill for air circulation
- Place multiple panels with the tube positions staggered

[lurchie]

I know this goes against your "passive cooling" concept, but you could increase the evaporative effect by training a fan on the pottery. As others have mentioned, this concept works very well in climates with low relative humidity. High humidity doesn't allow the moisture to evaporate and the cooling effectiveness is significantly reduced. This exact same concept can be used to make a water chiller (as you mentioned, the water in the tubes gets quite cold) it makes for a refreshing drink! I found this project really interesting!

[FreakishSmilePA]

I'm an American, and I thought it was odd that you thought 67F was hot, because in my area we usually prefer temperatures between 70F and 72F. But I converted 23C to Fahrenheit and it apparently comes out to ~73.5F, which feels much hotter and is personally out of my personal comfort zone.

Very neat video, very fascinating. Just wanted to be an American and point out the Fahrenheit thing lol

[crosita]

In addition to the fan, which is going to help a lot, a grooved surface would nearly double the surface area for a lot better cooling. Probably look nifty too. I would also consider using a low fire glaze on the inside and outside of the bottom inch or so. If your evaporation keeps up with the seepage, you might get way with no drips. At worst, it will stop you losing water to wicking from the towel or surface it is sitting on. Finally, lids to keep the mosquitoes from breeding in there, avoid drowned mice, etc

[idaslapter]

I think this is great. You've basically made a beautiful "swamp cooler". This will work well in a very dry climate. It looks very lovely too.

[GavinBisesi]

The main thing that determines how well this technique works is humidity. If the environment is dry, these work *really* well. If the environment is humid, they will do almost nothing. Other folks mentioned a fan - that would help move that cooler air around and make it more efficient. But if the region is humid, they unfortunately won't do a lot

[dcs]

I think if you put a fan behind them you would get or at least feel a better amount of cooling. I think they would work on the same theory as the "swamp coolers" my brother uses in CA. It uses a water cooled EVAP coil. Anyway they make for a really cool sculptural piece. 😊

[StarmaxStarmax-znxt]

You cannot expect a cooling effect the way you envisioned. A/C is essentially a heat pump -- you move energy from one place to another. In your setup you are moving energy from the water to the room via evaporation. This does NOT remove any heat from the room.
What you have made are some awesome water coolers.

[cateaudesfans]

I think it’s amazing and cooling the room 1, 5C is much, considering that the room would only have gotten hotter because of mid-day temperatures rising. The fact that it didn’t go higher, but even lowered is just awesome, also given the fact that the structure isn’t that big. It works! I love it 😻

[carrolmoxham]

Look up evaporative cooler or swamp cooler. We use those in the SW USA. your idea is great. You need a fan to push the cool air around. Try putting a fan to blow across the wet tubes and crack a window to let the air circulate.

[julzbehr]

Since you live in Germany, I suggest you talk to your neighbors about lüften. My family tends to open up windows at night, close them up in the morning and then bring the rollos down wherever the sun is shining from, so the heat doesn’t come in as quickly. Then as soon as it gets hotter indoors we make wind by tying all the doors up and opening specific windows. If you are using humidity cooling (which you are) you need to cycle the air more, as it will make it stuffy.

[nataliavulpes]

You should try putting them in front of a fan or an open window, the air movement will help the water evaporate faster and mix the cold air around the clay with the air in the rest of the room

[mr.sandman]

In Iran, there are yakchal (early fridge) and a type of structure called a windcatcher for this purpose. The windcatcher actually doesn't need wind to work, and has been used since ancient times throughout the Middle East.

[gauravvikalp]

One degree cooler IS actually a lot cooler. 23c to 21.5c is gonna make you feel much much cooler. I come from India, and we try keeping temperatures inside our homes around 21. I think this really works