Air-Cooling Droplets of Excellence
Düsseldorf Launches Evaporative Misting System to Combat Urban Heat Islands
In response to the first major heatwave of the summer, Düsseldorf has taken a proactive approach to combating urban heat islands. The city has launched a joint pilot project that includes the installation of a stationary misting system on Kirchplatz, the first of its kind in the state capital.
The misting system works on the principle of evaporative cooling, where water is sprayed into fine droplets that evaporate quickly, lowering the ambient temperature within a five-meter radius by several degrees Celsius. Christoph Wagner, head of water management at Düsseldorf's municipal utilities, explained the mechanism behind the system.
This new cooling option has been welcomed by Jochen Kral, Düsseldorf's Deputy Mayor for Mobility and the Environment. The expansion of the public fountain network in Düsseldorf is also underway, with plans to have a total of around 60 drinking fountains in the future. Citizens can directly drink from the public fountains or fill their water bottles during the hot summer months.
Locations of all free drinking water options and cool spots for hot summer days can be found online at [www.duesseldorf.de/kuehle-orte]. The misting system on Kirchplatz activates when the internal sensor detects a temperature of 29 degrees Celsius. It has 14 nozzles that spray approximately 1.1 liters of water per minute. The prototype developed by Düsseldorf's municipal utilities is 2.5 meters high, 1.2 meters wide, and 60 centimeters deep.
While there is general knowledge that evaporative misting systems can be effective in reducing localized urban heat, there is currently no specific quantitative data or evaluations on Düsseldorf’s new system to confirm its measured impact or degree of success. If detailed, city-specific efficacy data is needed, consulting municipal environmental reports or local government announcements on the project after summer 2025 would be advisable.
The perceived cooling effect is stronger in higher temperatures and lower relative humidity, making it an ideal solution for combating urban heat islands during summer heatwaves. However, the overall effectiveness in mitigating the broader urban heat island effect depends on factors like the scale of deployment, humidity levels, air circulation, and maintenance of the system. Large-scale implementation combined with smart monitoring and control usually yields better results.
Düsseldorf's innovative approach to addressing urban heat islands demonstrates the city's commitment to creating a more comfortable and livable environment for its residents during the summer months. With the misting system on Kirchplatz operational until September of this year, it will be interesting to see the impact it has on the local environment and whether it will be expanded in the future.
The evaporative misting system on Kirchplatz, a part of Düsseldorf's climate-change efforts, operates by spraying water into fine droplets, which lowers the temperature within a five-meter radius, contributing to the field of environmental-science. During summer heatwaves, the perceived cooling effect of this system is stronger in higher temperatures and lower relative humidity, offering a potential solution for mitigating urban heat-island effects.
