Coolgardie CPU cooler

This is in response to a real world problem, and it's an already baked idea applied to a new problem, so I may be breaking a few forum rules. However, this application is only half baked, and in a good cause, so I'll post anyway.

Geekcorps (see link) is installing computer infrastucture in outback Mali and is having problems with dust and their CPUs running over-temperature. They are seeking a low-cost, low tech solution.

My idea is to use something based on the Coolgardie meat safe (see link). This was ubiquitous in the equally hot Australian outback before electricity was available for refrigeration.

Coarse fabric, suspended from a tray of water and draped over the sides of the safe provide evaporative cooling. The safe works best if kept in the shade, in a breezy location. A drip tray collects excess water, which is used to refill the top tray.

With this version, the computer would be placed inside the safe. This solves the dust problem, but if the safe is too small, this would make the temperature situation worse, because the limited available air would rapidly heat, without sufficient evaporative cooling effect. Whether or not this solution works depends on how large the safe would need to be to counter this effect and provide a benefit. This could be determined by experiment, or a refrigeration engineer should be able to provide a rough estimate (any takers?). The temperature only needs to be reduced sufficently to bring the CPU within its designed operating range. Of course, other environmental factors, such as humidity also come into play.