Evaporative Cooling and Desiccant Dehumidification Air Conditioning Options for Livestock Thermal Comfort

This study provides insights into the applicability of evaporative cooling systems for livestock air conditioning (AC) for the climatic conditions of Multan (Pakistan). Usually, direct evaporative cooling systems are used in Pakistan which are inefficient and fail to achieve the required temperature and humidity levels for livestock thermal comfort. Therefore, three different types of evaporative cooling i.e., direct evaporative cooling (DEC), indirect evaporative cooling (IEC), Maisotsenko cycle evaporative cooling (MEC) systems, and desiccant dehumidification hybrid evaporative cooling (M-DAC) system, are explored for livestock air conditioning in Multan. The study aims to explore the best livestock AC option from the viewpoints of temperature gradient, temperature-humidity index (THI), and system performance. The MEC and M-DAC systems could achieve the required livestock thermal comfort. The DEC system achieved maximum effectiveness i.e., 0.9, whereas, it was 0.55 and 0.65 in case of the IEC and MEC systems. In addition, the M-DAC system achieved highest temperature gradient (i.e., 20 °C), whereas it was 10.5, 9.3, and 7.1 °C in case of the DEC, MEC, and IEC systems. The MEC and M-DAC systems achieved optimum temperature-humidity-index for livestock thermal comfort (i.e., 68–72). Thus, the study concludes the M-DAC system as an optimum system for livestock AC.