How indoor air conditioner works. How to properly use air conditioning at home: tips and nuances. Features of using the air conditioner

And where does the refreshing coolness come from on a hot summer day, it is necessary to consider in detail the main principles of air conditioning systems... To do this, it is worth recalling school physics lessons, which dealt with the absorption of heat by a liquid, and a simple experiment: cologne or alcohol was poured onto your hand, which in the process created a pleasant chill. It is this simple principle that is used in modern air conditioners.

What does a standard split system consist of? As a rule, there is a closed circuit inside it, along which the liquid moves -. Flowing inside the circuit, the refrigerant absorbs heat in one place in order to release it in another. This process takes place in special tubes, which are made of copper and contain transverse partitions made of aluminum. For a faster process flow, air is pumped into the heat exchangers, doing this with the help of special fans.

Based on the name of the processes taking place in the heat exchanger, one of them is usually called, and the other -. When the air conditioner is operating "on heat", it acts as internal evaporator (the part of the air conditioner located in the room), but when working "in the cold" - everything happens the other way around. Such is the principle of the air conditioner, but what is the point?

Cold in itself is not a complete product, but only a derivative of heat transfer with the help of a refrigerant. This process is referred to in the literature as "". Thanks to him, the performance of the air conditioner is obtained in three times higherthan its power consumption. At first glance, this may cause confusion: the efficiency is 300% - is this really possible? What is refrigerant and how can it be transferred from a room where the temperature is about 20 degrees, to the outside, where the temperature is twice as high?

It turns out that everything is much simpler than one might imagine. Temperature transfer directly depends on pressure, and it does not occur linearly, but monotonically. Thus, during transportation, the pressure becomes higher than the phase transition temperature. The boiled refrigerant changes its state from liquid to vapor and begins to absorb heat from the ambient air, while the required pressure is created in the heat exchanger, at which the phase transition temperature becomes lower than the ambient one. In the reverse process, the refrigerant gives up its heat to the air and the transition temperature rises.

Another important detail in the operation of the air conditioner is closed loop, for the creation of which at least two elements are required: - to increase the pressure and a throttle device - to lower it. The first of them is installed directly in front of the capacitor, and the second in front of.

In general, there are five elements that are mandatory in any type of air conditioner: closed loop, external and internal heat exchanger, compressor and throttling device. They are the main component of both the simplest and the most complex split system.

Nowadays, for a fully functional air conditioner, a four-way valve is added to the circuit, thanks to which it can generate both heat and cold. This split system is called “ reverse cycle air conditioner», An additional function of which was the transfer of heat from the room to the street and back.

• 3. Compressor - compresses freon and maintains its movement along the refrigeration circuit. The compressor is of the piston or scroll type. Reciprocating compressors are cheaper but less reliable than scroll compressors, especially in low ambient temperatures.
• 5. Four way valve - installed in reversible (heat - cold) air conditioners. In heating mode, this valve changes the direction of movement of the freon. In this case, the indoor and outdoor units seem to swap places: the indoor unit works for heating, and the outdoor unit for cooling.
• 4. Control board - as a rule, it is installed only on inverter air conditioners. In non-inverter models, they try to place all the electronics in the indoor unit, since
• large fluctuations in temperature and humidity reduce the reliability of electronic components.
• 1. Fan - creates a stream of air blowing over the condenser.
• In inexpensive models, it has only one rotation speed.
• This air conditioner can operate stably in a small range of outdoor temperatures. In models of a higher class, designed for a wide temperature range, as well as in all semi-industrial air conditioners, the fan has 2 - 3 fixed rotation speeds or smooth control.
• 2. Capacitor - a radiator in which cooling and condensation of freon occurs. The air blown through the condenser is accordingly heated.
• 7. Freon filter - installed in front of the compressor inlet and protects it from copper chips and other small particles that can get into the system during the installation of the air conditioner. Of course, if the installation was performed in violation of the technology and a large amount of debris got into the system, then the filter will not help.
• 6. Fitting connections - copper pipes are connected to them, connecting the outdoor and indoor units.
• 8. Protective quick release cover - closes the nipple connections and the terminal block used to connect electrical cables. On some models, the protective cover only covers the terminal block, and the nipple connections remain outside.

Indoor unit of air conditioner

• 1. Front panel - is a plastic grill through which air enters the unit. The panel can be easily removed for servicing the air conditioner (cleaning filters, etc.)
• 2. Coarse filter - is a plastic mesh and is designed to trap coarse dust, animal hair, etc. For normal operation of the air conditioner, the filter must be cleaned at least twice a month.
• 5. Evaporator - a radiator, in which cold freon is heated and evaporated. The air blown through the radiator is accordingly cooled.
• 6. Horizontal blinds - adjust the direction of the air flow vertically. These blinds are electrically operated and their position can be adjusted from the remote control. In addition, the blinds can automatically oscillate to distribute the air flow evenly throughout the room.
• 7. Display panel - on the front panel of the air conditioner there are indicators (LEDs) that show the operating mode of the air conditioner and signal possible malfunctions.
• 3. Fine filter - there are different types: coal (removes unpleasant
• odors), electrostatic (retains fine dust), etc. The presence or absence of fine filters has no effect on the operation of the air conditioner.
• 4. Fan - has 3 - 4 rotation speeds.
• 8. Vertical blinds - serve to adjust the direction of the air flow horizontally. In domestic air conditioners, the position of these louvers can only be adjusted manually. The ability to adjust from the remote control is available only in some models of premium air conditioners.
• Condensate tray (not shown in the figure) - located under the evaporator and serves to collect condensate (water that forms on the surface of the cold evaporator). From the sump, water is discharged to the outside through the drain hose.
• Control board
• (not shown) - usually located on the right side of the indoor unit. This board houses the electronics unit with a central microprocessor.
• Fitting connections
• (not shown in the figure) -
• located at the bottom rear of the indoor unit. Copper pipes are connected to them, connecting the outdoor and indoor units.

The principle of the air conditioner

Today, air conditioners are installed in almost every apartment and in all offices, and in the summer they help us to endure hot weather by cooling the air in apartments and other premises. Surely, enjoying the cool fresh air, someone was interested in the question of how the air conditioner works in the apartment? We will try to consider the process of equipment operation in detail in this article.

The principle of operation of the device

To begin with, let's recall physics: during evaporation, substances are able to absorb heat, and during the condensation process, they release it. Approximately, thus, the work of the split system is set.

The principle of operation of the air conditioner is to change the state of the working fluid of the equipment - refrigerant (in other words, freon), which is affected by the temperature level and the degree of pressure in a closed device. First of all, you need to familiarize yourself with the basics of the system.

Main components of equipment

The current equipment is equipped with an electronic unit that is responsible for controlling the modes of the device. The equipment receives its tasks through the control panel, which is included in the air conditioner kit.

The outer part of the air conditioner

The external unit of the device is installed outside the room and includes the following units:

Indoor unit

The indoor unit includes:

1. Coal (they are designed to remove various odors);
2. Electrostatic (they are necessary to retain small dust particles);
3. Antibacterial;
4. Others.

How is the air cooled and heated?

The refrigerant is capable of removing heat during evaporation. As a small experiment, you can do a little experiment. To do this, smear your hand with alcohol or a solution containing alcohol. After applying the liquid, the hand will feel cold, which is formed due to the evaporation of the liquid, thus, the alcohol, evaporating, takes away the heat emanating from the body.

The reverse process: during condensation (that is, when a liquid passes from a gaseous state to a liquid), a substance gives off thermal energy. This condensation process can be observed in a steam room.

At the moment when the air conditioner device operates in cooling mode, freon is subject to evaporation in a heat exchanger in the inner part of the system, and condensation takes place in the external unit. When the device is operating in heating mode, the whole process takes place in reverse order. Condensation takes place in a heat exchanger and evaporation in an outdoor unit.

How to use the conditioner correctly? To work with the equipment (to get acquainted with the operation process and correctly turn on the system), its package includes a user manual with a complete description of the operation of the modes and control of the system through the remote control.

An air conditioner can be used instead of a heater and, as some information data show, it is much more profitable to use it than to turn on the heater. Another advantage of the air conditioner is that it does not dry the air, as it happens when the heater is operating.

How is the performance of the air conditioning system checked?

The efficiency of the equipment is checked after the installation of the device or after repair work. Also, you should check the equipment before launching during the new season.

1. We check the external part of the system. When installing the outside of the equipment, a level should be used. Since it is important that the device hangs evenly and firmly on the wall. There must be a certain distance between the sienna and the device (at least 10 cm). It is better to fasten equipment with brackets or anchor bolts. It is necessary to track that the top of the device is covered with something, for example, a canopy from the roof of the building;
2. For processing copper pipes, you must use a special tool - a pipe cutter and a roller;
3. It is necessary to monitor the operation of the indoor and outdoor units. Perform regular cleaning of filters and the entire system in general;
4. When installing the equipment, the distance between the furniture and the device must be observed so that the air flow is evenly distributed throughout the room. It must be at least 3 meters;
5. Pay attention to the location of the drainage system. It should be installed with a slight slope so that water flows into the street, and does not remain in the pipes and does not drip indoors;
6. The difference in distance between the blocks should not exceed 20 meters.

The article reveals the main aspects of the question of how an air conditioner works in an apartment and how to maintain it. You can clean the device system yourself, there is nothing complicated about it and, in addition, you can save on calling specialists. Taking proper care of your equipment will help to extend its service life and increase its efficiency.

Despite the fact that there are air conditioners in almost every home, only a few users correctly imagine the scheme of such a device and how it works, is connected. In this article, we will try to expand on this topic.

General scheme of the air conditioner

The entire system is built on the ability of substances to absorb heat during evaporation and release it during condensation. This air conditioner scheme is incorporated into the operation of a modern split system. The main substance inside the closed system of the device is freon. Having the ability to change its state of aggregation by changing temperature and pressure, we will be able to cool the radiator and drive air through it from the street.

But first, let's get acquainted with the main elements of a split system. The scheme and principle of operation of the air conditioner assume the use of two units: outdoor and indoor. What are they needed for?

Outdoor unit

This unit is installed outdoors and mainly serves to cool overheated freon (it does not take air from the street, the air conditioner serves to cool the air in the room. Ventilation units are used to take outside air). It consists of the following nodes:

• Fan.
• Capacitor. In this part, freon is cooled and condensed. The air that passes through the condenser is heated up and discharged outside.
• Compressor. The main element of the air conditioner, which compresses freon and ensures its circulation throughout the circuit.
• Control block. It is usually used in outdoor units of inverter systems. In conventional air conditioners, all the electronics are usually located in the indoor unit.

• 4-way valve. It is used in models that can operate on heating (most modern air conditioners). This element, when the heating function is activated, changes the direction of movement of the refrigerant. As a result, the outdoor and indoor units swap places: the indoor one works for heating, the outdoor one - for cooling.
• Various nipple connections through which copper pipes are connected between the indoor and outdoor units.
• Refrigerant filter. Installed in front of the compressor in order to protect the latter from dirt that may enter the system during installation.

Indoor unit

It includes elements:

• Front panel through which air enters. It can be easily removed to allow the user to access the filters.
• The coarse filter is a common plastic mesh that retains coarse dust (eg, animal hair, fluff, etc.). This mesh needs to be cleaned once a month.
• Filter system consisting of carbon, antibacterial, electrostatic filters. Depending on the air conditioner model, some filters may not be present at all.

• A fan for circulating clean air in the room - cold or warm.
• Evaporator. It is a radiator where ice coolant enters. This radiator is heavily cooled by freon, and the fan drives air through it, which instantly becomes cold.
• Air flow direction adjustment louver.
• The indicator panel shows in which mode the air conditioner is operating.
• Control board. It contains the central processor and electronics unit.
• Fitting connections - pipes connecting the indoor and outdoor units are connected to them.

The air conditioner circuit is simple and logical, but some users do not understand why two blocks are needed? After all, you can take warm air from the room and run it through the air conditioner, cooling it down. But not everything is so simple: you cannot produce cold without producing heat. And the heat must be taken outside. A two-block system is ideal for this purpose. There are other systems as well, such as single-block systems. There, heat is removed outside through a special air duct led outside the apartment.

Detailed diagram of the air conditioner

Now that you know the basic elements, you can consider in more detail how this system works. So, when the cooling mode is activated from the control panel, the compressor is turned on in the system. It builds up pressure and drives the gas through the radiator. After passing through the radiator (in the outdoor unit), the gas becomes liquid and hot (if you remember, it gives off heat during condensation).

Now hot liquid freon (which was a gas before the radiator) enters where the freon pressure drops. As a result of this, freon evaporates, and a cold gas-liquid mixture enters the evaporator (freon becomes cold when evaporated). The evaporator is cooled down and the fan blows the cold out of it into the room. Then the gaseous freon enters the condenser again, and at this stage the circle is closed.

This air conditioner concept is valid for all types. Regardless of the model, capacity and functionality of the system, all air conditioners are built according to this principle, including automobile, industrial and domestic ones.

Air conditioner connection

The air conditioner installation scheme is simple, but the installation itself is quite complicated. It can only be produced by specialists who have the appropriate equipment. The whole difficulty lies in the installation of the outdoor unit and the pumping of freon inside. It is also required to make a huge hole in the wall, and if the house is panel, the complexity of the work increases.

As for the connection to the mains, it is enough to simply connect the internal unit of the device to the outlet, nothing more. But the power connection diagram for the air conditioner is a document that displays the location of various components and information for service centers. He is more interested in engineers who are engaged in the repair and connection of equipment. In the context of this article, a single air conditioner connection diagram cannot be given, since it may be different for different models.

Connecting blocks

After the external and internal units of the air conditioner have been installed, they must be connected to each other. This is done using a copper four-core cable. The conductors must have a cross section of at least 2.5 mm 2. The air conditioner connection diagram, which comes with the device itself, is to some extent an instruction. Usually the connection cable is routed together with the freon line, although it can also be routed in a separate plastic box.

Leased line connection

After connecting the two units, connect the indoor unit to the network. You can use the nearest outlet, however, given the rather high power of the installation, experts recommend allocating a separate power line for it, which will go directly to the meter. This will remove the heavy load from the common electrical line of the apartment. The cable routing to the shield can be done through a special groove or in a plastic box. Do not leave the wire exposed.

The panel into which the air conditioner power line (and the common line of the apartment's electrical system) will enter must be grounded. In this case, the cable power must be connected through an automatic machine of a certain power. It is calculated using a special formula: the power of the air conditioner divided by the voltage (220 or 230 V). To the obtained value, add 30% for the power reserve.

Connection to the general power supply system of the apartment

Connecting the device to a regular outlet that belongs to a common power line is possible only if your air conditioner is not powerful and will not create a heavy load on the network. When the power consumption of the air conditioner is 1 kW or less, it can be connected to a regular outlet. Typically, models designed for cooling 20 square meters have this capacity.

The device and principle of operation of various air conditioners are similar. These systems have a common structure and purpose. The difference between them lies only in the location of the system in the house and the external form of the device.

Air conditioning device

All air conditioners consist of the following parts:

• fan;
• throttle;
• capacitor;
• compressor;
• evaporator.

The compressor compresses the freon and forces it to circulate in the system. The condenser is used to convert freon from gas to liquid. It is usually located in an external unit. The evaporator, on the other hand, causes the liquid freon to turn into gas. Its action is opposite to that of a capacitor. The throttle reduces the freon pressure, and the fans cool the system.

This is how every such device works. At the same time, the principle of operation of a floor air conditioner does not differ from the principle of operation of a wall or ceiling air conditioner.

System operation

All parts of the air conditioner (except for the fans) are interconnected with thin copper pipes. In some devices, the tubes are made of aluminum. A coolant circulates through the tubes inside the air conditioner (most often it is freon). The cooler takes on a gaseous or liquid form. Fans protect the system from overheating.

When the vaporous freon enters the compression hole, it has a temperature of about 10-15 degrees. Its pressure is 4-5 atmospheres. In the compressor, the refrigerant is compressed, the pressure increases 5 times, and the freon temperature rises to 90 degrees.

Very hot freon enters the condenser. There it cools, releasing heat, and smoothly turns into a liquid state. Then the freon passes through the throttle and enters the evaporator. Here the liquid agent is mixed with the gaseous one. It evaporates and creates cooling. After that, freon enters the compressor again, and the cycle closes. This is how a simple diagram of how an air conditioner works.

Varieties of air conditioners

There are several types of air conditioners, although the principles of operation are the same for all. By the type of air intake, such systems can be conditionally divided into:

• supply air;
• recirculating;
• air conditioners with recuperation function.

Recirculation systems operate with internal air, supply systems use external air masses, and systems with recuperation use both of these methods.

In addition to the specified differentiation, there is another division of air conditioners:

1. Monoblock - systems consisting of one unit, in which all functions are combined. They are very easy to operate, easy to repair and serve for a long time. Such air conditioners are unpretentious. Their only drawback is the high cost.
2. Split systems consist of two separated blocks. One of them is placed outside the building, and the second indoors. Both parts of the system are connected by a tube through which freon circulates. The fan and evaporator of such an air conditioner is located in the indoor unit, and the rest of the system is located in the external one. Split systems differ in shape between themselves: there are floor, ceiling, wall conditioners of this type.
3. Multi-split systems are distinguished by the fact that they have several internal units, and the external one is still one. Such air conditioners can also be floor-standing, wall-mounted or ceiling-mounted.

Possible system malfunctions

Today, in order to install and successfully configure such a system in your home or office, it is not necessary to know how an air conditioner compressor works. But it is necessary to understand some possible failures of air conditioning devices.

The most common cause of disruption in split systems is water hammer. It occurs due to the fact that liquid freon enters the compressor. The agent does not have time to completely assume the gaseous state in the evaporator.

Water hammer occurs for several reasons.

This mainly happens with cheap air conditioners that are not entirely designed correctly. Therefore, at the slightest temperature interruptions, they can present unpleasant surprises. Water hammer can occur when the air conditioner is started in a room with negative temperatures. For an inexpensive system, a temperature of minus 10-12 degrees is enough to fail.

Dirty filters also cause water hammer. Air conditioning must be monitored. It is advisable to regularly conduct a routine inspection of the system to avoid costly repairs.

Another malfunction of air conditioners is associated with a freon leak. This usually happens when the pipes are not installed correctly. Sometimes leaks occur in inexpensive, poorly designed systems. Among the very cheap models of air conditioners, you can find a factory defect, when the pipes are simply either poorly screwed on, or initially have a leak. You can visually determine the leakage of freon while the system is running. It causes freezing on the back of the air conditioner.

If the air conditioner is not installed correctly, air and moisture can enter the circuit. This will soon lead to a malfunction of the device. Air in the circuit often causes breakdowns in air conditioners.

Therefore, it is better to install a split system with the involvement of professionals who are not the first time installing such units.

The benefits of conditioner

The air conditioner creates optimal temperature conditions in the home and office. Recently, even complex systems with the function of ionization and air humidification have appeared. It has a very beneficial effect on people, but on condition that the system is looked after. Because air conditioners, like any other device, require cleaning and regular repairs.

Dirty air conditioner filters are unlikely to make it useful. There are cases when people have various ailments due to unkempt split systems. If the owner of such a device wants to get the most out of it, then he should carefully monitor the condition of the air conditioner.

Video

The following videos will help you understand the principle of operation of air conditioners: