Traditional air conditioning systems, specifically split-type or central air conditioning units, do not bring in fresh air from outside. These systems work by recirculating the air inside your home or building. The primary components of a traditional AC system are an indoor unit (evaporator) that cools the air and an outdoor unit (condenser) that releases the heat extracted from the indoor air.
Here's how the process works:
The indoor unit absorbs warm air from inside the room, passing it over evaporator coils containing a cold refrigerant. The refrigerant absorbs the heat from the indoor air, cooling it down.
The cooled air is then recirculated back into the room, lowering the indoor temperature.
The absorbed heat from the indoor air is transferred to the outdoor unit through refrigerant lines.
The outdoor unit releases the absorbed heat to the outside environment.
This recirculation process continues until the desired indoor temperature is reached.
However, there are some air conditioning systems called "ventilation air conditioning" or "fresh air systems" that do incorporate bringing fresh air from outside. These systems are typically designed for commercial buildings, offices, or larger spaces where there's a need for better indoor air quality. These systems work by mixing a certain percentage of fresh outdoor air with the recirculated indoor air, thus providing ventilation and helping to maintain air quality.
In residential settings, standard air conditioners are not designed to bring in fresh air from outside. If you want to improve indoor air quality at home, consider using standalone air purifiers, opening windows when the weather permits, and ensuring proper ventilation in your living spaces.