This is the first of a series of four papers that describe a 3-year EU-funded research project into the application of passive downdraught evaporative cooling to non-domestic buildings. In this paper various evaporative cooling techniques are reviewed. By spraying fine droplets of water at the top of atria, a downdraught of air cooled by evaporation can be produced. Such direct evaporative cooling using an evaporation tower appears to be a suitable approach for partly displacing the need for air-conditioning in hot, dry climates. It can satisfy fresh air requirements and reduce or eliminate demand for mechanical cooling. Examples of this cooling technique in Southern Europe and the Middle East have already demonstrated its operation and potential energy savings. However, limitations, primarily due to control of the system, have been identified. This introductory paper presents the theoretical basis of evaporative cooling, reviews some historical precedents, and discusses their relative strengths and weaknesses. Three further papers in this series will disseminate the main findings of the project.

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