Briefly explained, it works like this: If you pass room air through a set of open ended aluminium pipes loaded with ice, it comes out of the unit 8oC to 10oC cooler in a fast and thick stream which is quickly distributed in the room by a ceiling fan. Ideally, this unit is designed for a 120 to 150 sq.feet room to make you feel relatively cool and comfortable. It consumes a fixed 2.5 to 3.5 kg ice per hour. Larger and cooler units can be designed for bigger spaces.