An air conditioning system works by transferring heat from inside a building to the outside, using a refrigerant to do so. Here's a breakdown of the process, incorporating information from the provided reference:
Key Components & Their Roles
The system primarily uses these components to achieve cooling:
- Compressor: This is the heart of the system. It pressurizes the refrigerant gas, increasing its temperature.
- Condenser Coil (Outdoor Unit): The pressurized, hot refrigerant gas is sent to the condenser coil located in the outdoor unit.
- Fan (Outdoor Unit): A large fan pulls outdoor air across the condenser coil. This air absorbs heat from the refrigerant.
- Refrigerant: The substance that transfers the heat in the system, changing between gas and liquid phases.
The Cooling Process
The process is a cycle, using the refrigerant to move heat:
- Compression: The compressor increases the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant gas.
- Heat Release: The hot, high-pressure refrigerant gas flows through the condenser coil in the outdoor unit.
- Air Absorption: The fan in the outdoor unit forces air across the condenser coil, absorbing the heat from the refrigerant. This causes the refrigerant to release its heat to the outside air.
- Condensation: As the refrigerant releases heat, it cools down and changes from a high-pressure gas to a high-pressure liquid. This liquid refrigerant is then ready for the next part of the cycle.
Simplified Summary
| Step | Action | Refrigerant State | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Compressor pressurizes refrigerant gas | Hot, high-pressure gas | Increases gas temperature & pressure |
| 2 | Refrigerant moves to the condenser coil | Hot, high-pressure gas | Ready to release heat |
| 3 | Outdoor air absorbs heat from condenser | Cooling, becoming liquid | Refrigerant releases heat to the outside air |
| 4 | Refrigerant turns into liquid | High-pressure liquid | Ready for the next cycle |
This process is repeated continuously to maintain the desired temperature inside the building.
