An inexpensive home air conditioner has long ceased to be a cherished dream. Now, manufacturers produce dozens of budget models. A split system is no longer a novelty, so it is not surprising that many are thinking about buying one.
In this article, you will learn how air conditioners in an apartment are arranged and how they work. We will tell you about essential nuances that should be considered if you decide to understand the air conditioning system’s operation principle.
You will learn what components an air conditioner consists of, how cooling occurs, and why freon is needed.
General information
In this article, we will discuss the most common type of household air conditioner—a split system. If you do not know what types of air conditioners exist, read the article from best contractor of ac installation Los Angeles, CA.
The air conditioning system consists of external (outdoor) and internal units. They are connected to each other using a system of copper tubes through which the refrigerant (also known as freon) circulates.
During circulation, freon enters different “sections” of the split system, where it turns from a liquid to a gaseous state. After that, it condenses and cools, and the whole process starts over again.
The outdoor unit is installed on the street side (usually on the roof or facade of the building), and the indoor unit is installed indoors.
The indoor unit can be installed on the wall or floor, in special niches, or the inter-ceiling space. One indoor unit can be connected to one outdoor unit.
There are also outdoor units to which two to eight can be connected. They are called multi-split systems.
The main components of a split system
A split system consists of several essential components. Let’s list the main ones:
Compressor. Necessary for the movement of freon through the air conditioning system. This is the heart of the split system as a whole;
Condenser. Located in the outdoor unit, it is responsible for cooling the gaseous refrigerant, due to which the freon condenses and becomes liquid;
Throttle. It is necessary to reduce the pressure, which helps to reduce the temperature of the refrigerant;
Evaporator. It is necessary to heat the freon with subsequent evaporation. It is located in the indoor unit;
Fans. They are necessary to direct the airflow. The fans are located both in the outdoor and indoor units;
Communications. They are small-diameter copper pipes connecting the outdoor and indoor units. Freon circulates through the pipes.
There are also several additional components in the indoor unit:
Filters. They are designed to clean the air from dust and allergens. They need to be replaced regularly;
Display or LED indicators. They display all the basic information that the consumer should know while using the air conditioner;
Drainage system. It is necessary to collect and drain condensate outside the room;
Blinds. They are designed to adjust the direction of the airflow.
How does this system work?
The basic components of a split system are a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, and a throttle.
These components are responsible for the evaporation and condensation of the refrigerant.
These components are connected to each other using copper tubes, and the refrigerant circulates through them.
The cycle begins with the evaporator. Freon enters the evaporator, where, as you might guess, it evaporates, turning into gas.
Gaseous freon then enters the compressor, where it is compressed. At the same time, the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant increase.
Under high pressure and at high temperatures, gaseous freon enters the condenser.
There, it cools and condenses, becoming liquid. That is, it changes its state. In this case, freon gives off the heat it has taken from the room.
Then, freon enters the throttle. It is in a liquid state and under high pressure at this stage.
After passing through the throttle, the freon pressure decreases. At the same time, its temperature decreases.
The cooled liquid freon again takes warm air from the room and enters the evaporator. The cycle is closed. It lasts constantly while the air conditioner is on. This is a continuous process.
The process looks the same when working on cooling but is carried out in the opposite direction.
If you’re thinking of buying an air conditioner, the cost typically starts around $300 and increases depending on the model, power, and installation complexity.
Results
Now you know how air conditioners work in an apartment. Despite all the technology, a modern split system is similar to a regular refrigerator in many ways. In both cases, freon goes through a cycle of transformations from a liquid state to a gaseous state and back.
