What is the difference between an air cooler and a portable air conditioner?
These two products are radically different in the way they function. Air coolers use water and evaporation to cool, similar to the way a swamp cooler works. Air is drawn in through the back of the machine and sucked through a wick saturated with water. As the air flows through the wick, some of the water evaporates, consuming some of the heat that was in the air. A cool stream of air is then blown from the front of the machine that has been cooled 10-15 degrees cooler than the ambient room temperature. Air conditioners use a compressor and Freon to cool a room, and are much more effective at cooling larger spaces. Air coolers are more a means of direct, personal cooling, and are much more energy efficient.
