Air Conditioning

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AIR CONDITIONERS

What is Air Conditioning?
An air conditioner is basically a refrigerator without the insulated box. It uses the
evaporation of a refrigerant, like Freon, to provide cooling. The mechanics of the Freon
evaporation cycle are the same in a refrigerator as in an air conditioner. The term,
Freon, is the term used for any of various nonflammable fluorocarbons used as
refrigerants and as propellants for aerosols.

Diagram of a typical air conditioner

A. Expansion valve
B. Compressor

This is how the evaporation cycle in an air conditioner works:
1. The compressor compresses cool Freon gas, causing it to become hot, high
pressure Freon
gas (red in the diagram above).

2. This hot gas runs through a set of coils so it can dissipate its heat, and in condenses
into a
liquid.

3. The Freon liquid runs through an expansion valve, and in the process it evaporates to
become cold, low-pressure Freon gas (light blue in the diagram above).

4. This cold gas runs through a set of coils that allow the gas to absorb heat and cool
down the
air inside the building.

Mixed in with the Freon is a small amount of a lightweight oil. This oil lubricates the
compressor.

Air Conditioners come in various sizes and cooling capacities.

Residential

Apartment
Complex

B T U and S E E R

Most air conditioners have their capacity rated in British Thermal Units (BTU).
Generally speaking, a BTU is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of
one pound of water 1 degree Fahrenheit. In heating and cooling terms, 1 "ton" equals
12,000 BTU.

The seasonal energy efficiency rating (SEER) of an air conditioner is its BTU rating
over its wattage. For example, if a 10,000-BTU air conditioner consumes 1,200 watts,
its SEER is 8.3 (10,000 BTU/1,200 watts). Obviously, you would like the SEER to be
as high as possible, but normally a higher SEER is accompanied by a higher price.