Misting fans

The idea behind the misting fan is that the fan blows a fine mist of water into the air and the mist evaporates, it takes the heat from the air with it. This allows the misting fan to work like an air cooler. The misting fans rely on evaporation of the water droplets to cool the air. Evaporation needs heat energy and this heat is taken from the air and the air temperature drops.  The flip side is that the air is more humid, but in outdoor areas this is of no concern as the air mixes with dryer air. It means that although the near area area might increase in humidity, over a wider are humidity increase is negligable. However, a very muggy atmosphere can mean decreasing effectiveness and increasing humidity. They are a great and quick tool to cool down areas where air conditioners cannot, such as outdoor settings or marquees and tents.

The actual process behind the fan starts with high pressure pumps dispersing enough water to create a pressure that can reach up to 1000 pounds PSI. The water is then pushed out of small nozzles which decrease the droplet size into a mist that is expelled into the room. This mist then evaporates very quickly when in contact with warm air, which in turn pulls warm air with it leaving a cool atmosphere. The mist is so fine that it leaves minimal moisture when touching a surface. A common misconception is that a misting fan will dampen or wet it surroundings, however that is not the case unless it comes into contact with a surface within several inches from the nozzles.

Where can you use misting fans?

Heat is not just uncomfortable, it can be dangerous and a hazard to health and safety. Investing in cooling your workplace can drastically improve employee efficiency. According to a Heat Stress in Industrial Workplaces study conducted by NASA, it was concluded that even a temperature difference of just 15 degrees had a drastic effect on the productivity of workers. While working in a 23°C, study participants were 29% more efficient, and their accuracy improved by 300% when compared to those working in a 35°C environment. Whether working inside in a ventilated and air-conditioned office or warehouse, or working outside, misting fans can create a cooler advantage to the workplace.

They are also quite popular for outdoor and social events such as festivals, sports, halls, arenas, and so on. Where masses of people are sitting or queuing, the addition of a misting fan can decrease the amount of warm air and help ease the onset of heat stress. This can be seen by simply placing a misting fan next to a queue lining up for tickets at a festival. Instead of standing in the warm, stagnant sun, a cool breeze could create a more pleasant atmosphere.

A recent example of its use can be seen at the 2018 London Marathon, with the use of misting fans greeting hot and tired athletes at the finish line.