What is a Cellulose Pad? A cellulose pad is a specially engineered, rigid sheet made primarily from plant-based cellulose fibers (often from aspen or other hardwood trees) that are bonded together using special resins and then corrugated and laminated into a thick, multi-layered block.
Its primary function is to maximize the surface area for water evaporation in evaporative and adiabatic cooling systems.
Think of it as a very efficient, structured sponge that air can easily pass through.
Key Characteristics and How It Works
- Material: Made from natural cellulose, which is highly absorbent and wicks water effectively.
- Structure: The pads are manufactured with a specific fluted or corrugated pattern. This pattern is designed to create countless tiny channels for air to flow through, while simultaneously allowing water to run down over the entire surface area of each channel.
- Surface Area: This corrugated structure creates a massive surface area within a compact space. A single cubic foot of cellulose pad can have over 500 square feet of surface area for water and air to interact.
- The Process:
- Water is pumped to the top of the pad and distributed evenly across it.
- The water soaks the pad and trickles down through all the fluted channels.
- A fan draws hot, dry outside air through the wet pad.
- As the air passes through these wet channels, a small portion of the water evaporates.
- Evaporation requires energy (heat), which is drawn from the air itself. This process, called adiabatic cooling, significantly lowers the temperature of the air before it reaches the main heat exchanger.