The first air conditioning system was invented in the early 20th century by Willis Carrier. He designed it so a compressor pulls in air from the room and mixes it with fresh air. The fan then blows it back into the room. Refrigerator chiller pipes in the centre of the duct remove heat from the air. These pipes are fed by a system of valves and pumps. Then, the temperature of the cooled air is controlled by a thermostat.
We can break this down into three stages:
- Collecting the heat inside your home
- Pumping it through the compressor
- Returning it to the indoor unit.
This cycle is repeated until a thermostat signals that the indoor temperature is too high and the AC needs to stop. After a rest period, the system will restart the cooling process.
In short, air conditioners don’t create cold air – they remove it! This is accomplished by using a substance called a refrigerant that moves from the inside of the home to the outdoors. The cool air is then blown back into the home, lowering the temperature. Let’s take a look at how this refrigerant works by looking more into technical side of an ac unit’s build.
The makeup of an ac unit – the technical parts!
An air conditioner is composed of metal heat-dissipating plates. The fans blow air past these plates, which wick heat away from the air inside the house. This process gradually pumps the heated air outside the building. In doing so, the air inside the building gradually cools.
The process of cooling air involves using refrigerants, which are substances that easily change from liquid to gas. This fluid absorbs heat when in its liquid state, and subsequently converts to a gas. The cool air is then introduced into the room, maintaining the desired temperature.
Another way to understand air conditioners is to imagine a refrigerator. You can place half of it inside the house, while the other half outside. You can then leave the door of the refrigerator open, which is acting as an air conditioner. As the refrigerator pulls the heat from your home, it will be emitted outside, slowly cooling the house.
You will need to purchase the correct BTU aircon according to your room size
Mistakes first-time buyers often make isn’t about whether they understand the technicalities of aircon, it is about understanding the type of unit required according to the size of the space it will cool. Buying an aircon with a low BTU will not cool down large rooms. Contrariwise, buying one with a BTU to high for the space will cost you more money when a cheaper lower BTU model would do the trick
A good place to start when determining how much BTU you need is to measure the square footage of the room. By using the rule of 20 BTUs per square foot for a room with two occupants, you can determine the BTU requirement for that room. As you add more occupants, multiply the number of BTUs by six. While these are general estimates, working with a professional air conditioning installer is the best way to determine the exact number of BTUs your home needs.
Next, calculate the BTU needs of each room in your home. In addition to the square footage, take into consideration the height and width of the windows, as well as the ceiling height. Also, factor in the size of the windows, doors and the amount of shading the room receives.
Ambient temperature plays a major role in determining the BTU requirements of a room. The warmer the outdoor temperature, the greater the BTUs needed to cool the room. A home located in a sunny climate may need less than a home with heavy shade. Lastly, take into account how many people live in the room.
A room’s size is also important to consider when choosing an air conditioner. A small bedroom may only need a few thousand BTUs, while a large bedroom may need up to eight thousand BTUs. The room’s shape, size, and number of windows all contribute to the overall BTU requirement.