Understanding how your Australian air conditioner system works is a great way to maximise its performance.
This may seem like an easy question but are you able to explain how aircon works. Most of us use this technology every day at work or in public spaces like the doctor’s waiting area, but we really don’t know much about them. So, how does MDV air conditioning work? This blog will cover everything you need to know.
How Does an Air Conditioner Work?
Although air conditioners are commonly associated with making a room cool, the actual science behind making a room cold is the transfer of heat outside of a building.
A fan is used for blowing ambient air above the hot coil, which contains the refrigerant. The heat is then transferred to the outdoor air.
The refrigerant can then be pumped back inside, and the cycle begins again.
The heat has been removed and only the cool air is left to be blown into the space, cooling it further. The process can be reversed to heat a space using an air conditioner.
A Breakdown
Air conditioners cool indoor air using refrigeration. This is because a liquid that has been converted to a gas absorbs heat. This is called phase transformation. This is how air conditioning systems make use of it. They force refrigerant compounds, such as those found in refrigerant compounds, to evaporate and condense over time in closed coils.
The Basics:
- Through a filter, the air conditioner takes in warm air from within the room.
- The warm air is pushed over the coils that contain the cold refrigerant. The fluid heats up as the air flows across the coils.
- The fan blows the air into the room. This cycle will continue for a while, cooling the room to the desired temperature.
- Now the refrigerant fluid that made the air cooler, but also absorbed heat, must be cooled again. It flows through the compressor, where the pressure is increased and then it is cooled through the condenser.
- The gas then goes through its cooling cycle.
- In reverse gas flow, reverse cycle systems perform the same thing.
Major Components
The refrigerant is managed and circulated by the four main components of an air conditioner unit.
- Evaporator: This is where the liquid refrigerant evaporates.The refrigerant is removed from the air by cooling coils.
- Condenserfacilitates heat transfer by condensing gas back into liquid form. The heat collected by hot coils is released into the air.
- Expansion Valveregulates refrigerant flow to the evaporator.
- Compressoris used to pressurize the refrigerant. This pump acts as a pump and moves the refrigerant from the condenser to chill the indoor air.
The evaporator is located on the cold side (inside) of an air conditioner. It also contains a fan that blows air into the room from the chilled coils. The compressor, condenser, and another fan are on the hot side (outside). This allows the hot refrigerant air to be emitted to the outside. The expansion valve regulates how much compressed refrigerant is moved to the evaporator between the two sets.
Inside and Outside
The air conditioning process is essentially two actions that take place simultaneously. One inside and one outside.
- Warm indoor air is cooled by the cold cooling coil containing refrigerant.As the refrigerant changes from liquid to gas, heat from the indoor air is absorbed in the refrigerant. The cool air is then distributed back to your house.
- The refrigerant gas enters the outdoor unit through a large coil.The refrigerant is turned back into a liquid, and heat is released to the outside. A large fan draws outdoor air through the outdoor coil, rejecting heat that has been absorbed by the house.
This creates a constant cycle of indoor heat and humidity removal, cool air returning to the house, and heat and humidity exiting the house.
Is This Like a Fridge?
Yes, there are many similarities in an air conditioner and a fridge. For example, take your household fridge. The warm air flows through the cool box and is then absorbed into the unit. Here, special chemicals are used to mix the air with chemicals which make it quickly turn from a liquid into a gas. This heat is absorbed by the air and creates cooler air, which helps keep your food fresh.
Can Air Conditioners Heat a Room?
They can, in short. Many air conditioners have a heating pump. They absorb heat that would otherwise go to waste while cooling down a room. This heat can be used to heat energy, which is often more efficient than conventional heaters.
Don’t put off getting or upgrading your air-conditioning any longer.
No matter what type of MDV air conditioner you choose, it is important to understand how they work. This will help you to choose the best system for your home. It will also help you understand the options your HVAC contractor has presented to you.
Give the team from IACS a call if you have any further questions and get the right air conditioner for your needs.