The Study of Celpad from Mulberry Paper for Evaporative Cooling

Abstract

This research aims at studying the possibility of producing evaporative cooling cell pads by meansof mulberry paper which is a low-cost agricultural products and easily available easily. The physicalproperties of mulberry paper, such as (1) water absorption (ISO534:1988), (2) tensile strength(ISO3781:1983), (3) basis weight (gramage) (ISO536:1995), (4) thickness and (5) density (ISO534:1988),were analyzed. The various sources of mulberry paper, Naloaeng, Wiangsa, Nan (A), Sanian ,Muang, Nan(B) and Kekyai, Nachornthai, Phitsanulok (C), were studied to find a suitable paper for producing theevaporative cooling cell pads.

The result of the study showed the physical properties of the paper from these sources as follows; (1)water absorption of 220-390 %, (2) dry tensile strength of 6 - 17 kN/m2, (3) wet tensile strength of 0.4 - 1.3kN/m2, (4) basis weight (gram age) of 50 - 130 g/m2 , (5) thickness of 0.1-0.4 mm and (6) density of 300 -390 kg/m3 depending upon the source and thickness. We have found that the paper from Kegyai, AmphurNachornthai, Phitsanulok has physical properties suitable for producing cooling cells because it is cheaperand has the same value of water absorption as the others. Testing efficiency using, ASHREAE standard41.2 - 1987 (width x length x height, 30x15x50 centimeters) by (a) varying the values of wind velocityfrom 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, to 2.5 m/s and (2) switching the water flow rate to 0.03, 0.06, 0.15, 0.22 kg/s, wefound that a air flow rate of 1.0 m/s and a water flow rate of 0.03 kg/s was suitable for producing theevaporative cooling cell pads. The efficiency of the evaporative cooling cell pads from mulberry paper isclosed to that of commercial cooling cell pads, 67.10 % and 68.33 % respectively.

Economically, the cost of a cell pad from mulberry paper is approximately 240 fl/m2, which is cheaperthan those sold commercially.

Keywords : Mulberry Paper / Physical Properties / Cell Pad / Evaporative Cooling