Although the UK is relatively cool, indoor temperatures in the summer can sometimes exceed 40 Degree C. This can make it extremely uncomfortable for both living and working. Installing air conditioning is a popular way to make things more bearable, but what is it and how does it work? H2 Early beginnings The first ‘modern’ air conditioning system was invented way back in 1902 by Willis Carrier.
How does an air conditioner work?
Air conditioners work by transferring heat/humidity from inside a property to the outside environment. The crucial parts of an air conditioning system are the evaporator, blower, condenser, compressor, fan, filter, and thermostat. Refrigerants also plays a key role.
– The evaporator consists of cooling coils that remove heat and humidity from the air.
– The blower circulates air over the evaporator and disperses the chilled air.
– The condenser features hot coils that release the collected heat into the outside air.
– The compressor moves the refrigerant between the evaporator and the condenser, chilling the indoor air.
– The fan is used to blow air over the condenser to dissipate the heat outside.
– The filter is used to remove larger particles from the air.
– The thermostat is used to regulate the amount of cool air that is circulated.
Refrigerants
Refrigerants are special chemicals that can easily transform from liquid to gas and back again. This makes them extremely useful in systems such as air conditioning.
Specialists in air conditioning in Stroud
If you feel that your property could benefit from air conditioning, there are plenty of experts in air conditioning Stroud and the surrounding area. For further information/advice, you could go to Ace Comfort Cooling or a similar company.
Types of air conditioning
The three most common types of air conditioning systems are central air conditioners, ductless air conditioners, and heat pumps. Central air conditioning systems are larger and can cool multiple rooms at once, while ductless air conditioners are more compact and easier for smaller homes. Heat pumps can provide both heat and cool air.
Moving heat with refrigerant, coils and fans
The simplest way to picture an air conditioner is as a machine that moves heat rather than one that makes cold. A refrigerant gas carries heat from one part of the building to another, much as the system in a domestic fridge does. Warm indoor air passes over evaporator coils, where the refrigerant absorbs its heat and the air is cooled.
A fan then pushes the cooled air back out, either straight into the room or through ductwork that serves several rooms in a house or office. In that sense an air conditioner works much like a warm air heating system, using the same idea of moving air around the building, but with heat taken out instead of added.
For anyone new to air conditioning, this is the key point. The cooling happens in the refrigerant cycle at the coils, and the fan and ducts simply deliver the result to the rooms. Once that is clear, the differences between the various types of system become much easier to follow.