We all are aware of the fact that air conditioners are really the most efficient invention of science. Today, it has become an essential part in the life of every person. Air conditioning is mainly used to make life more bearable in the warm countries. They are capable of cooling the surroundings more efficiently in a very short time period. This is major reason for the popularity of these air conditioners. These units are capable of controlling the room temperature in an efficient manner with the help of the ventilation technology.
Well, I would like to tell you that air conditioners are popular since 1900. In the earlier times, air conditioners were used by the industrialists to keep the atmosphere cool. These units are really very much beneficial for the industry as well as the offices. In the earlier times, air cons were considered as the element of luxury. The popularity of the air conditioners simply increased after the success story of the stock exchange market of the United States of America.
If you are living in the warm country and you want to enjoy a cooled ambiance, then you can simply invest your money in buying these appliances. Well, I would like to tell you that these air conditioners can easily remove the humidity out of the air. If you are living in a humid area, then you can simply take the help of these units so that you can get rid of the humidity.
It has been observed that they are not at all environment friendly. They consume a lot of electricity. They also use the gas which is named as Freon. This gas is mainly used as a refrigerant and it is very much harmful for the environment. The increase in the popularity of the air conditioners is the major cause for the thinning of the ozone layers. It has been observed that Freon is not at all harmful for the human beings but it is really very much harmful for the ozone layer.
Nowadays, modern units are being used which are not at all enhanced with the Freon. These units mainly take the help of methyl chloride and ammonia for producing the conditioned air. These substances are also very much harmful for the environment. All these features make these cooling units very much harmful for the environment.
So, these are some of the essential facts and features related to the air conditioners.
It is a subset of HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning). The ultimate purpose of HVAC, is to provide comfort for our everyday living.
Let's go through some explanation on "H" and "V" part, before going into "AC" section.
The "H" part in HVAC, stands for heating.
This heating is associated with radiators, furnaces, fire place stoves and electric heating. Radiators are fed with hot water from boilers, fire place and stoves provides radiant heat by burning wood or coal, furnaces
heat up a given space by means of fossil fuel burning, and electric heaters use the principle of electrical
resistance to generate heat.
Heating is used mainly in very cold areas.
"V" stands for ventilation in HVAC.
Ventilation topic relates to air circulation and movement between an open space, and an enclosed space. It is possible to achieve this by means of natural occurrence, or by means of forced ventilation. Equipment that aid ventilation include chimneys, blowers, eductors, and ventilators.
Purpose of ventilation is for safety of occupant in a space, as well as comfort. It is especially useful in case of fire.
Finally, "AC" is a short form of, air conditioning.
Contrary to popular belief, it is not just about refrigerant filled air conditioners. The word "conditioning" itself, suggests that, air conditioners should condition the air, to reach comfort level of occupants in a room.
The equipment should do any, or a combination of the following, to reach comfort level,
Not only that, air conditioners can be coupled with heating, and ventilation - especially with central air conditioners. Into details,
Alter air temperature by means of cooling or heating
Equipment, which can alter air temperature, by means of cooling is known as air conditioner. It is called a heat pump, if it is used for heating.
However, a heat pump is suitable for heating, only if the temperature do not go down to extremes. As such, a supplementary heating equipment (the "H" part) will be used - be it a heating strip, furnace, or radiator.
A mechanical cycle air conditioner, is an equipment with compressor, condenser, expansion valve, evaporator, and tubes, filled with refrigerant.
Alter air humidity
A conventional mechanical ACs can alter humidity. When it is used for cooling, it will also dehumidify. A heat pump will alter relative humidity as it heats up the air.
However, there are equipment built specifically for humidification, and dehumidification. These are humidifiers, and dehumidifiers.
A humidifier will add in water vapour into air, to cool down hot and dry climate areas. A dehumidifier, will be very useful in very mild air temperatures, with high humidity. Humidifier's parts are same to an air conditioner, but the construction is different, such that air will be cooled, moisture removed, and reheated before discharging it to the room.
Circulate and mix air
Stale and stagnant air is no good for you health - let alone the uncomfortable feeling. Air circulation can be achieved with the simplest equipment - fans. Air draft will continuously displace warm air near your skin, and aid evaporation and hence, provide skin cooling by means of evaporation.
Air circulation for whole building, would require ducts and blowers. This combination is used mainly with central air conditioners. Conditioned air will be circulated to designated areas. It is also designed to take in fresh air, and expel some of used air, for ventilation purposes - the "V" part.
Filter and purify air
Most conditioning equipment, is fitted with filter as a package, or separate installation. Main reason - to filter out air conditioning repair redwood city dust in air.
Air purification can be achieved by means of activated carbon (for odour removal), UV light (for removing germs), and HEPA filters (high efficiency particulate air).
AC is essential in our life, especially in extreme temperature areas, or even for the sake of air circulation and purification.