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Abstract

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for efficiently using various components in combination as a system for cooling and cleaning air. The apparatus uses the combination of an evaporative cooler with a water reservoir and a refrigerated air system with a water-cooled condenser. A pump or series of pumps are used to supply water to the evaporative cooler and to the water-cooled condenser from the water reservoir. A mechanism for controlling the hardness of supplied water may also be included. After the reservoir water has been supplied to the other components in the system, it is returned to the water reservoir. During less humid Summer conditions, the output air from the evaporative cooler is supplied to a series of ducts and is used to cool the interior of a structure such as a home. When the outside ambient temperature and/or humidity levels exceeds the capabilities of the evaporative cooler for cooling the interior of the structure to the desired temperature, the output air from the evaporative cooler is partially re-directed to one or more adjacent spaces of the structure and the refrigerated air from the refrigerated air system is used to cool the interior of the structure. A portion of the output air from the evaporative cooler is also added to the air of the refrigerated air conditioning system to clean, humidify, and pressurize the air going into the living spaces. By using the output air from the evaporative cooler to cool an adjacent space, the overall cooling load on the refrigerated air system is reduced. In addition, the use of the water from the evaporative cooler reservoir to condense the refrigerant vapors will enable the system to achieve even greater efficiency.

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First Claim