How Split Air Conditioning Units Work
It is a misconception that air conditioners lower the temperature in their rooms simply by pumping cool air in. What is actually happeninng is the heat from the warm air in the room is being removed and pumped back in as cooled air. This cycle continues until the room reaches the desired thermostat temperature.
How It Works
An air conditioner is basically a refrigerator without the insulated box. It uses the evaporation of a refrigerant to provide cooling or heating. The mechanics of the evaporation cycle are the same in a refrigerator as in an air conditioning unit.
This is how the evaporation cycle in an air conditioner works.
- The compressor compresses refrigerant which causes it to become hot.
- This hot gas runs through a set of coils so it can dissipate its heat and in doing so condenses into a liquid.
- This liquid runs through an expansion valve where it evaporates to become a cold low pressure gas.
- This cold gas runs through a set of coils that allow the gas to absorb heat and cool down the air inside the building.
This process is simply reversed to provide heating.
Mixed in with the refrigerant is a small amount of lightweight oil. This oil lubricates the compressor.
A split unit has an inside unit and an outside unit joined by insulated copper pipes. Therefore a wall mounted unit is a permanent installation that adds value to your premises rather than merely a portable appliance. The other great advantage to a split unit is that they are also heat pumps and can provide exceptional warmth to the room during the winter months.