In a split air conditioner, the cooling process involves three main components: the evaporator coil, the condenser coil, and the refrigerant gas. These components work together to facilitate the heat exchange necessary for cooling the indoor air.
- Evaporator Coil: The evaporator coil is located inside the indoor unit of the split air conditioner. It is responsible for absorbing heat from the indoor air and converting the liquid refrigerant into a low-pressure, low-temperature gas. Here's how it works:
a. Warm Air Absorption: When you turn on the air conditioner, the indoor fan draws warm air from the room and blows it over the evaporator coil.
b. Heat Transfer: The liquid refrigerant inside the evaporator coil has a low boiling point. As the warm air passes over the cold evaporator coil, heat is transferred from the air to the refrigerant.
c. Phase Change: The refrigerant absorbs enough heat to undergo a phase change from liquid to gas (vaporization).
d. Low Pressure and Temperature: The refrigerant exits the evaporator coil as a low-pressure, low-temperature gas, while the now cooled and dehumidified air is blown back into the room.
Refrigerant Gas: The refrigerant gas is a crucial part of the air conditioning system. It is a specialized substance designed to undergo phase changes at relatively low temperatures. A common refrigerant used in split air conditioners is known as R-410A (a hydrofluorocarbon). The refrigerant follows a closed-loop cycle through the air conditioner.
Condenser Coil: The condenser coil is located in the outdoor unit of the split air conditioner. It is responsible for releasing the heat absorbed from the indoor air into the outdoor environment. Here's how it works:
a. Gas Compression: The low-pressure, low-temperature refrigerant gas from the evaporator coil enters the compressor located in the outdoor unit.
b. Compression and Temperature Increase: The compressor compresses the refrigerant gas, causing its temperature and pressure to rise significantly.
c. Hot Gas Discharge: The high-pressure, high-temperature gas then flows to the condenser coil.
d. Heat Dissipation: The condenser coil, with its fins and tubes, facilitates the heat exchange process. As outdoor air is blown over the hot condenser coil, the refrigerant releases heat to the surroundings.
e. Phase Change: As the refrigerant releases heat, it undergoes a phase change from gas to liquid (condensation).
f. High-Pressure Liquid: The refrigerant exits the condenser coil as a high-pressure, high-temperature liquid.
The refrigerant, now in liquid form, goes back inside to the indoor unit through an expansion valve or capillary tube, where it enters the evaporator coil to begin the cooling cycle again.
Overall, the cooling process in a split air conditioner involves the evaporator coil absorbing heat from indoor air to turn refrigerant into a low-pressure, low-temperature gas. The condenser coil then releases the absorbed heat to the outdoor environment, causing the refrigerant to condense back into a high-pressure liquid. This cycle continues as long as the air conditioner is running, efficiently cooling the indoor space.