“An air conditioning system works by removing heat from the indoor air to provide a cooler and more comfortable environment. The process involves several components and a cycle of heat transfer. Here’s a simplified explanation of how an air conditioning system works:
Refrigerant: The heart of an air conditioning system is a chemical compound called refrigerant. This substance has the ability to absorb and release heat efficiently as it changes from a liquid to a gas and back to a liquid.
Components: The primary components of an air conditioning system include:
a. Compressor: The compressor is a motor-driven pump that compresses the refrigerant gas, raising its temperature and pressure.
b. Condenser: The high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas is then sent to the condenser coils located outside the building. Here, the refrigerant releases heat to the surrounding air, causing it to condense into a high-pressure liquid.
c. Expansion valve: The high-pressure liquid refrigerant then passes through an expansion valve or metering device, where its pressure is reduced, and it becomes a low-pressure liquid-gas mixture.
d. Evaporator: The low-pressure liquid-gas mixture is then sent to the evaporator coils, which are typically located inside the building. As warm indoor air is blown over these coils, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the air, causing it to evaporate into a low-pressure gas once again.
e. Blower fan: The blower fan inside the air conditioning unit circulates the cooled air through the ductwork and into the rooms.
Cycle: The cycle repeats continuously as the warm indoor air is drawn into the air conditioning system, cooled by the evaporator coils, and then blown back into the rooms as cool air. Meanwhile, the absorbed heat is transferred to the condenser coils and released to the outside air.
By repeating this cycle, the air conditioning system maintains a comfortable indoor temperature, removing heat and humidity from the air to keep the environment cool and dry. Some modern air conditioning systems also have the ability to reverse the cycle, providing both cooling and heating functionalities, making them more versatile for year-round use.”