If the air going into a cooling unit is 95°F at 35% RH, and the air leaving is at 55°F with high moisture content, what type of cooling is occurring?

The cooling process described involves both a reduction in air temperature and a significant change in moisture content, indicating that both sensible and latent cooling are occurring. Sensible cooling refers to the decrease in air temperature, while latent cooling relates to the removal of moisture from the air.

In this scenario, the air entering the cooling unit at 95°F and 35% relative humidity is initially warm and relatively dry. As the air passes through the cooling unit, it cools down to 55°F, indicating notable sensible cooling due to the temperature drop. However, the mention of "high moisture content" in the air exiting the unit suggests that moisture is being removed from the air as well, which is classified as latent cooling.

Latent cooling is significant in air conditioning and dehumidification processes where the main goal is to remove moisture from the air, which can be seen in the scenario where the original air humidity was reduced despite the drop in temperature. Therefore, both processes are happening simultaneously, justifying the classification of the cooling as both sensible and latent. This combination is critical in managing indoor air quality, especially in commercial drying applications where both temperature control and moisture removal are vital for effective drying.