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Toaster-sized Evapolar cools, humidifies and purifies the air

By Aaron Heinrich
October 14, 2015
Toaster-sized Evapolar cools, humidifies and purifies the air
The Evapolar is an evaporative air conditioner that you can take with you
The Evapolar is an evaporative air conditioner that you can take with you
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The Evapolar is billed as the world's first portable air conditioner
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The Evapolar is billed as the world's first portable air conditioner
The Evapolar is currently limited to black (pictured) and white color options
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The Evapolar is currently limited to black (pictured) and white color options
The Evapolar is currently limited to black and white (pictured) color options
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The Evapolar is currently limited to black and white (pictured) color options
The Evapolar is claimed to have a maximum cooling effect of -17° C (-30.6° F)
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The Evapolar is claimed to have a maximum cooling effect of -17° C (-30.6° F)
The Evapolar weighs 1,680-g (59 oz) and measures 160 x 160 x 165 mm (L x W x H)
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The Evapolar weighs 1,680-g (59 oz) and measures 160 x 160 x 165 mm (L x W x H)
The Evapolar is about the same size and weight as a toaster
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The Evapolar is about the same size and weight as a toaster
The Evapolar is an evaporative air conditioner that you can take with you
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The Evapolar is an evaporative air conditioner that you can take with you
The Russian team behind the Evapolar
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The Russian team behind the Evapolar
View gallery - 8 images

Most so-called portable air conditioners stretch the definition of "portable," but the Evapolar isn't one of them. In a form factor about the same size and weight as a small toaster, the unit packs an evaporative cooling system to cool and humidify the air, while an evaporative nanomaterial based on basalt fibers that was developed for the Russian military helps purify the air.

Desktop units that humidify and purify the air, and perhaps even offer a bit of cooling, have been around for some time. But most have a minimal effect except in a very small space – say a few meters. The Evapolar is essentially like having a mini in-window evaporative cooler that you can unplug and take with you, but it’s potentially more efficient and healthier.

The Russian team responsible for the device boasts experience in the production of evaporative materials for industrial air conditioning systems and say the evaporative nanomaterial based on basalt fibers that forms the key part of the unit has proved its worth in industrial air conditioners in the Moscow subway for a number of years.

The Evapolar weighs 1,680-g (59 oz) and measures 160 x 160 x 165 mm (L x W x H)
The Evapolar weighs 1,680-g (59 oz) and measures 160 x 160 x 165 mm (L x W x H)

Its creators say the 1,680-g(59 oz) unit is 12 times more energy efficient than a traditional split system air conditioner, consuming a maximum of 10 W and boasting a maximum cooling power of500 W. Running off mains power, the device itself measures 160 x 160 x 165 mm (L x W x H) and has awater tank capacity of 710 ml (24 oz), which should provide around six to eighthours of cooling. The company also claims that it can drop temperatures by a maximum of 17° C (30.6° F), but this is only in very dry and hot conditions, with the average temperature drop around 6 to 8° C (10.8 to 14.4° F).

Still with a week to run, the team's Indiegogo campaign has raised over US$160,000 of the $100,000 goal and still has pledges available at the early bird price of $179, with the retail price expected to be around $400. Currently color options are limited to black or white, but more colors are planned for the future. If all goes to plan, backers will start receiving their units in June 2016. If you can't wait, you can build your own by paying $60 US for the company's DIY kit.

Source: Evapolar

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Around The HomeAir ConditionersAir Purification SystemsIndiegogoHumidifierAir purifying
6 comments
Aaron Heinrich
Aaron first knew he wanted to be a writer when he was in grade school and the local paper printed his editorial on environmental issues. Since then he’s written screenplays, white papers, speeches, and articles on everything from baby diapers to nanotech. When he’s not behind a computer keyboard, he’s grabbing the handlebars on his motorcycle and riding around California and beyond.

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6 comments
bobbejaan
That could be an absolutely brilliant piece of kit. I can see a big market for camper vans & the overland travelling community. A lot of people avoid sleeping in vehicles because of the lack of ventilation - or use fairly useless 12 volt fans. RV style a/c is too bulky, expensive & power hungry. And I can see a possible market in the devleoping world. Funny how the marketing seems to be targetting the hip urban set? If it works as promised I think they're aiming it at the wrong people. I'll take the microsoft version.
Scott in California
"proved its worth in industrial air conditioners..."? Question then is, why hasn't it been adopted in California, for shopping malls, large building complexes, and so forth? Unlike the Mid-West and the East and South, California has very low humidity with high temperatures in summer, and evaporative cooling is quite effective. And, the Sierra Nevada mtns provide plenty of "basalt".
Martin Hone
I'd like to see some evidence that it actually works, and more details on the DIY version please.
charizzardd
So it is a swamp cooler, because there is no way it is a vapor compression cycle powered unit. Perhaps it is using a thermo-electric but I am skeptical of that power consumption-plus then it would have to vent heat, unless they are piggy backing a swamp cooler to the hot side of a peltier module.
It's water and a fan which is why it works only in dry environments because it is humidifying the air by evaporating water... Hardly a new idea and all they did was add fancy lights and some industrial design.
Not to mention 500 W is only 1000 or 2000 Btu/hr of cooling power, a 500 sqft room requires many times that to actually cool the space. I would love to know the test conditions that they were able to see a 17C drop- perhaps in a super dry room that was already very hot with 0 ventilation and great insulation.
Cool but highly suspect of the innovation here.
bpbansal
i very much doubt the efficacy of product. i commented on indiegogo but he did not come around 500 watts. cooling is by evaporation only and depends on the total surface area and surrounding conditions. Even a 100% evaporation can not justify 500 W. Evaporation also depends on removal of humid cold air from evaporating surface.A 10 watt fan will not remove that air. And what about noise of fan.
I do not in any way want to discourage but it would have been better had there been a third party endorsement at least of a prototyp.
Kaiser
The plant sitting next to this new device carries out the same function of humidifying, cooling, and purifying the air. Plus it has no running cost. Plus it generates oxygen. Enclosed space? Go plant.