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From this part of HVAC onwards, we are going to learn about each air conditioning system in detail, one by one.
Window Air Conditioning System
What Is A Window Air Conditioner?
A window air conditioner is a device designed to cool your home's interior space by forcing warm air out the windows while simultaneously drawing in cold air from outside.
How Does A Window Air Conditioner Work?
The window air conditioner works by using a compressor to force cooled air over a series of fins (or cooling coils) placed inside the windowsills, onto the windows themselves, and finally out the open windows. As the air moves across the fins/coils, it picks up its temperature, becomes cooler, and then is forced into the house. Inside the house, the air passes through filters and vents before being blown back into the room again. The cycle repeats until the desired temperature is reached.
Cost
The cost of installing a window air conditioner varies based on where you live and how big your house is. Most systems start at around $300-$500; however, if you want to install a larger unit or have extra options, prices may increase. You'll also need to pay for installation, materials, and any permits necessary.
Air conditioning systems have been around since the beginning of time. In ancient Egypt they used methods to cool their buildings. There were two types of air conditioners; the first was a free-standing unit that cooled the house down by blowing cooling air on a fan coil. Then there was the window AC system which was installed inside of existing windows. Window AC units work by using the temperature difference between outside and inside to create a flow of cold air.
Materials: Window AC kits consist of a compressor, fan motor, ducting, thermostat, and filter. A standard kit comes with the compressor, filter, and thermostat. You may find some companies selling the compressor alone without any of the other components. If you do not want to purchase the compressor and thermostat separately, make sure to get a quality model. Also look at the warranty period. Most manufacturers offer a lifetime guarantee on their products. Make sure it is an extended warranty and not just a limited 1 year warranty. All three should be covered under the warranty.
Steps: To set up a window air conditioning system, follow these steps:
* Measure the width and height of your opening.
* Find out where your electrical outlet is located.
* Determine the length of the window frame.
* Position the compressor near the back wall of the room.
* Connect the hose and filter to the inlet side of the filter.
* Place the fan motor in the middle of the window opening.
* Connect the drain hose to the bottom center of the fan motor.
* Set the thermostat according to what you need for your climate.
* Turn on the fan motor and test it with a switch.
* Plug in the compressor and turn it on.
* Once everything is connected, screw the compressor into place.
Window Air conditioner
Window air conditioning is a great way to cool down your home, especially if you're looking to save money while lowering your utility bills at the same time. If you're not sure how to install a window air conditioner, here's everything you need to know about installing one.
Here's How it Works
In order to install a window air conditioning unit, the first thing you'll need to do is decide whether you want an open-loop system or a closed-loop system. An open-loop system requires that you run a ducting network throughout your house with vents. As the warm air travels through these vents, it passes through the cooling coil in your AC unit before exiting back out again. A closed-loop system works differently; instead of running ductwork throughout your home, it runs a line directly from your outdoor unit to your indoor thermostat.
If you choose a closed-loop system, you'll need to purchase an exterior compressor from a reputable brand. From there, you'll need to connect it to your existing electrical outlet (a 220V outlet) that serves your home. Then, once you have it installed, simply plug it into your wall socket and enjoy! You don't need any additional wiring, and they're typically much quieter than open-loop units.
There are numerous brands out there to choose from, including: Honeywell, Maytag, Rheem, Carrier, and others. There are many different models too, designed to work with different types of windows, ranging from double-glazed, single-glazed to triple-glazed.
The best thing about installing a window air conditioner? You get free cooling! Not only does it help reduce your utility bill, but it also helps keep your home cooler in the summer. In addition to that, installing an air conditioning unit can actually increase your property value.
Refrigeration system of a window air conditioner
When we talk about the air conditioner, we often think about cooling the room temperature down using refrigerants. In fact, the air conditioners work by decreasing the temperature of the surrounding environment and making it comfortable for us to enjoy. But did you know that there's actually a system behind the scenes? Let's take a look at what happens inside an air conditioner.
The first step is to cool water, called phase change material (PCM), which absorbs heat and reduces its volume while expanding. Water does not expand easily, so the PCM absorbs heat and reduces its size. Next, the compressor takes over. Compressors use electricity to squeeze out gas, which expands outside the device. That expansion pushes in the cool air from the evaporator coil, which then flows back to the compressor where it re-enters the cycle. Cool air enters the room, and the PCM releases the heat it absorbed. As temperatures drop, evaporative coils become warm, and they begin to release moisture back into the air. The compressor pumps in dry air that picks up the moisture released by the evaporator coil. Evaporative coolers are designed to remove humidity from the air.
Air conditioning units consist of four basic parts: the condenser, evaporator, blower, and compressor. You might have some variation on these components depending on whether you're looking at a window unit or central AC. A simple description of each of these parts follows.
Condensers are located outside of the home and are responsible for transferring heat from the air to the cooling agent (refrigerant). Condensers are also known as the radiator. When air passes through a condensing unit, the cooler surface heats the air causing the water vapor within the air to turn to liquid water. The heat transfers to the refrigerant, which causes the refrigerant to evaporate. Once the refrigerant turns into vapor, it travels through small tubes to the inside of the unit where the compressor begins the process again.
Evaporators are the second component of a conventional air conditioner. They absorb the heat from the air passing through them and use that heat to boil off the water molecules in the refrigerant. Once the refrigerant reaches boiling point, it turns into a superheated steam that rushes through tiny pipes to the compressor. The compressor squeezes the hot gas, which causes the gas to condense and return to a liquid state. The liquid returns to the evaporator and continues the process until the refrigerant becomes saturated with water. At that point, the refrigerant exits the evaporator and moves along to the next stage of the process.
Blowers are fan motors attached to high pressure fans that blow air across the evaporator. These fans push air across the evaporator, helping to move cold air into your home. Blowers need electricity to operate and draw their power from the electrical grid. Some models of air conditioner do not have any moving parts. Instead, they rely solely on the outside airflow to provide all of the necessary cooling.
Compressors suck in air from the outside and compress it. The compressed air is then sent to the condenser where it is cooled down before being expelled into the house. Compressors vary greatly in size depending on the compressor manufacturer; however, many compressors operate at between 30 and 80 psi.
A modern air conditioner uses a closed loop refrigeration system. Unlike older systems that used freon gases, modern air conditioners use R-22 Freon, which is a hydrocarbon-based refrigerant. Modern air conditioners use ozone friendly refrigerants because of the damage done by freon gases. The refrigerant circulates through the cooling system just as our blood circulates through our bodies.
Although air conditioners are a common household item, there are still many myths surrounding how they operate.
1. Myth 1: Air conditioners drain your bank account
This is simply not true! If you invest in an air conditioner, chances are you'll pay less than $100 annually in utility costs. Your utility bill may go up if you live in a humid area, but if you're in a desert where the humidity never gets above 50 percent, you probably won't notice much difference.
If you've bought a new air conditioner recently and noticed that your bills have gone up, don't panic! Many people blame air conditioners for higher utility bills, but that isn't always the case. If you suspect that your utility bills have gone up due to an increase in your air conditioner usage, you should contact your local electric company to determine why.
2. Myth 2: Air conditioners damage the planet
This myth is related to myth number 1, but it's still important to correct. Yes, air conditioners use energy, but they make energy more efficiently than people realize. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, air conditioners use around 15% of the total US electrical demand. So even though they use a lot of energy, they still save a substantial amount compared to other forms of heating and cooling. The EPA estimates that air conditioners reduce carbon emissions by 4 billion pounds of CO2 per year. Another way to look at it is that every time you use an air conditioner, it removes approximately 3 tons of CO2 from the atmosphere. Compare that to the 5 million cars in the U.S., and it's clear that air conditioners help protect the planet.
Parts of a Window Air conditioning system
1. Condenser Coil
The condenser coil is the first piece of equipment in the window air conditioner unit. When cooled outside water enters the evaporator coil where the refrigerant turns to vapor. As the refrigerant travels throughout the evaporator coil, heat is released into the room. In the end, the air inside the home is cooled down as the hot air becomes saturated with condensed water molecules. The cooling is then transferred to the condenser coil where the water begins its journey back into liquid state. The condenser coil is the last stage of the transfer of heat into the space of the house. The coil is exposed to the outside environment because it is not insulated and it absorbs heat from the surrounding air. This is how the evaporation takes place. If there's no condenser coil, there wouldn't be any cool air flowing through the home.
The condensation coil (also known as a cooling coil) is located outside the window air-conditioning unit, just below the evaporator. It is made of copper or aluminum tubing. Its purpose is to cool moisture from the inside coils of the unit. In order to do this, it passes cold water through the coil, which lowers its temperature and causes a change in state. This change in state creates moist air. If they were not in place, the evaporator's coils would dry out and stop functioning properly.
2. Evaporator Coil
After being cooled in the condenser coil, the air passes over the evaporator coil. The evaporator coil is placed inside of the home where the fan circulates air through it. On the way to the evaporator coil, the warm air picks up moisture from the air passing over it. Once the air reaches the coil, the evaporating process takes place. To make sure that the coils stay clean, they should be routinely cleaned using steam cleaning machines and dehumidifiers.
An evaporator is a metal structure with fins inside it. These fins allow the air entering the fan area to pass over them and become cooled. As the air exits the fins it becomes saturated with water vapor. The water vapor then travels back down toward the condensation coil where it changes state again. At this point it cools the air even further causing the water vapor to change back to liquid water. The condensed water then drains down the drain pan.
3. Compressor
When the evaporator coil is ready to work again, the compressor starts. The compressor compresses the gas and releases it to the condenser coil. This helps circulate air continuously through the entire system. However, if the compressor fails, the whole system won't function properly.
4. Drain Pan
The drain pan is installed at the bottom of the compressor. There are small holes around the perimeter of the pan that allow water to escape. Water that escapes due to improper drainage could cause damage to the compressor and the entire unit.
A drain pan is basically a container designed to catch any remaining water after the coils have been drained. There are two types of drain pans, gravity and pressure. Gravity drain pans use the weight of the water to force it downward. Pressure drain pans work best in situations where there is a lot of evaporation occurring. This type of drain pan forces the water upward due to hydrostatic pressure.
5. Expansion Valve
The expansion valve is located downstream of the condensing coil. The expansion valve controls the amount of refrigerant entering the evaporator coil. Refrigerants flow through the expansion valve until reaching equilibrium. The expansion valve is controlled by the thermostat. It is recommended that the expansion valves be regularly inspected for leaks. Leaks may lead to the compressor becoming damaged or freezing.
6. Thermostat
The thermostat is responsible for controlling the temperature of the cooling system. The thermostat automatically senses the temperature around the home and regulates the compressor based on the need. It is recommended that an automatic thermostat be used so that the compressor doesn't have to constantly regulate the temperature.
7. Fan Motor
The fan motor is attached to the top of the compressor. Fans move a lot of air through the evaporator coil and help distribute the cold air evenly. The fan motors are powered by electricity.
This is the mechanism that runs the fans and regulates their speed. You want to make sure that the fan blades always stay at least half an inch away from each other.
8. Fan assembly
Fans are attached to the fan motor using screws. Make sure that the screw holes line up properly before tightening.
9. Freon
Freon is the refrigerant gas used in window A/C units. If freon leaks, the compressor will fail. To prevent this from happening, the compressor should never be left running while empty. In some cases, the compressor will automatically shut off if the tank gets low enough.
10. Refrigeration charge
The refrigeration charge is what makes everything cold in the winter. You need to add refrigerant to the refrigeration charge periodically throughout the year to keep the unit operating efficiently. Do not open the cap on the refrigerant until you've added the proper amount to the refrigerator compressor.
Working of Window Air Conditioner
A window air conditioner works by using evaporator coil to cool down outside air which enters into the room. The cooled air then passes over the condenser coil where it gets reheated back to its original temperature. The cycle continues until the air inside of the room becomes cooler than the outside air.
The unit uses refrigerant gas to cool off the air. The refrigerant gas absorbs heat while passing through the coil and converts its energy into electricity to power the compressor motor. There are two types of refrigerants - Freon and mineral oil. Freon is considered harmful to the environment while mineral oil is not. The former type of refrigerant has been banned in many countries due to its high toxicity levels. Mineral oil based systems are much safer to use as they do not pose any threat to human beings. However, some companies may still offer Freon units. These air conditioners operate at temperatures between +5°C to +35°C. They can be used with a wide range of climates and environments, including deserts, tropical islands and cold regions.
An air conditioner does not work alone; it requires a thermostat to control the operation of the fan and compressor. A typical thermostat consists of three parts: heating coil, cooling coil, and a bimetallic strip. Depending upon how hot or cold the room is, the bimetallic strip will either close or open the circuit breaker of the unit, thus turning on/off the fan and compressor. In addition to the thermostat, an air conditioner also requires electrical wiring connections, blower motors, fans, condensers, compressors, ventilators, etc.
Window units have become more popular in recent years because of their low cost. They provide sufficient comfort and are easy to install. Moreover, they consume less electricity and provide adequate ventilation for the room.
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