Air Conditioning is a vital part of modern life, but it uses large amounts of energy and has environmental impacts. Learn more about how it works and alternatives like evaporative cooling, ventilation, and passive heating.
Air conditioners work by circulating refrigerant through a cycle of evaporation, compression, and condensation. Initially, they used chlorofluorocarbons, but these have been phased out as they harm the ozone layer. Today, hydrofluorocarbons and low-carbon alternatives are used. Contact Air Conditioning Companies Orlando now!
Air conditioning is a process that uses refrigeration technology to create and maintain optimum temperature levels within an indoor space. This system is used for residential homes and buildings, commercial structures including offices, restaurants, retail stores and warehouses; industrial and military settings; and in vehicles such as cars, buses, airplanes and ships.
It’s pretty common to think of air conditioners as systems that simply create cold air. However, this is only a small part of the air conditioning process. The more accurate description is that these systems take heat from indoor spaces and move it to outdoor spaces, cooling the air in the process.
To accomplish this feat, air conditioning units use a closed loop of refrigerant that goes through four different stages: compression, condensation, expansion and evaporation. The air that is cooled by these systems is circulated throughout the building with the help of a fan. The air is blown from the AC unit through ducts that are strategically placed on walls and floors.
The working fluid inside the air conditioner, which is also known as refrigerant, starts in the compressor, where it’s put under high pressure. This process compresses the gas, which makes it hot and changes it from a liquid to a gas. Once it exits the compressor, it moves to the condenser where metal fins are situated all around the unit’s housing. This structure is similar to a radiator on a car, and it helps dissipate the heat quickly. The refrigerant is now a low-pressure liquid and it moves to the evaporator.
Just like boiling water on the stovetop, when this fluid is heated to a certain temperature it evaporates and absorbs the heat in the air around it. The air in the evaporator is then cooled and moved to the ducts and into your home.
While this sounds fairly simple, there are a few important things to keep in mind when choosing an air conditioning unit for your home or business. For one, it’s important to choose the right size unit. If the AC is too small, it won’t be able to meet your cooling needs. It’s also important to verify that the electrical wiring in your home can accommodate the required power. Larger units require dedicated circuits, while smaller models can be run on standard household circuits.
The Compressor
The compressor is the heart of air conditioning. It pumps refrigerant gas from a smaller chamber to a larger one, increasing its pressure. The compressor raises the temperature and pressure of the vapor, which is then sent to flow through a heat exchanger (also called a condenser) where condensation occurs and the gas is returned to its liquid state.
The basic theoretical model of a compressor is the open energy system, in which the compression process is assumed to have adiabatic efficiency. The actual compression process, however, is rarely adiabatic, with a significant amount of energy (heat) being lost to the compressor’s components and shaft work appearing as both increased pressure and temperature above adiabatic. This is known as polytropic compression.
A compressor may be of several different types, based on its structure and its working principles. Some are more complex than others, but all work on the same basic principle. The dynamic type of compressor, for example, uses the kinetic energy of the vapor refrigerant in its motion through the vane channels of the rotor to increase its pressure.
Other compressors, such as the rotary screw, lobe and centrifugal types use a row of rotating and stationary airfoils or blades (the rotor) and a row of stationary blades (the stator). The accelerated vapor flows through the rotor and diffuses in the stator, where it gains a velocity increase that increases its pressure.
The axial-flow compressor is more like a blower than the other types of compressors, and is typically less expensive to purchase. Axial-flow compressors do not require the lubrication and maintenance needed by rotary compressors, although they need a high level of system cleanliness to ensure proper operation. Axial-flow compressors do have some lubrication points, but they are typically in a location that does not interfere with the compressor’s working flow. This type of compressor does not suffer from surge problems, but a decrease in mass flow or an increase in rotational speed could cause a stall in a single stage of the rotor aerofoils. This can damage the compressor.
The Evaporator
The evaporator coil inside the indoor air conditioning unit contains a network of copper or aluminum tubing. Air in the house passes over these tubes and absorbs the heat, which is then blown out of the home by the fan. This process is known as dehumidification. The evaporator coil also helps to cool the air in the house by absorbing the condensation that forms on the cooling surface of the coil, and then carrying it out through a drain tube to be drained outside the house.
The cold, low-pressure liquid refrigerant that enters the evaporator coil is highly conductive and very efficient in absorbing the heat from the air that passes over it. This enables the air conditioner to quickly cool the house’s occupants.
When the hot air from the house reaches the temperature of the cool, low-pressure liquid in the evaporator coil, it evaporates, or changes from a liquid to a gas state. As it does so, the vaporized liquid absorbs more heat from the house’s warm air, cooling it further and allowing it to continue the cycle.
Once the vaporized liquid in the evaporator coil has absorbed enough heat, it leaves the coil and flows through an expansion valve to rapidly decrease its pressure. This allows the refrigerant to rapidly cool, returning it to its liquid form. It then exits the evaporator coil into the house’s duct system, where it is blown out through the air vents to distribute the cooled air.
A common issue with the evaporator coil is that dirt and dust in the home’s duct system can build up over time, insulating the coil and reducing its ability to absorb heat from the air. This can cause the coil to overheat, which leads to a loss of air conditioner efficiency. A dirty evaporator coil can also be the source of refrigerant leaks, which are dangerous and should never be allowed to occur. A professional should perform routine maintenance on the evaporator coil, including cleaning and changing the filter, to help prevent such issues. A professional can also repair any problems with the evaporator coil, such as leaks and damage from debris.
The Condenser
In the air conditioning process, heat is transferred from your home to outside through a series of steps. The evaporator and compressor are the two primary elements that perform this function, but your AC system also depends on the condenser unit to help with the process.
The condenser is a set of coils housed in the outdoor unit. It consists of copper and aluminum tubing with fins that are designed to allow for rapid heat transfer. A fan blows air across the coils to facilitate this process. As the refrigerant passes through these coils, it absorbs heat and vaporizes, turning into a high-pressure gas.
This is then sent to the compressor in order to be compressed. The compression helps the hot pressurized refrigerant to convert back into its liquid state, which is then sent to the condenser in order for it to cool down.
As the refrigerant is cooled down in the condenser, it releases its absorbed heat into the air surrounding the unit. This helps to remove any excess heat from the cooling cycle, ensuring that your system can continue its work of removing heat from your home and sending it outdoors.
A well-maintained condenser unit is an essential part of your air conditioner’s operation. It helps the system to run efficiently and reduces energy costs by effectively releasing any excess heat that the other components would otherwise have to expend extra effort on.
In order to maintain a healthy condenser, it’s important that you make sure the area around the unit is kept clean. This means removing any grass clippings, weeds, leaves, mulch or debris that could prevent the air flow needed to circulate the refrigerant. You should also keep the area clear of any bushes or shrubs that may get in the way of the airflow as well. It’s also a good idea to have regular air conditioning maintenance done, so that your condenser can stay in top condition and working as efficiently as possible for years to come.
