The air conditioner has come a long way since it was invented in the early 20th century with several innovations in design and technology to enhance its performance and efficiency. The air conditioner is made of up several components that work on circulating cool air to your home or office. A fault with any of the major components of the air conditioner can lead to the compromised performance of the air conditioner, a decrease in energy efficiency, and a shorter life span for the components.
To keep your air conditioner running at an optimum level, it is important to have the major components of the air conditioner running in top condition. Here are the major parts of a typical modern air conditioner.
Refrigerant
The refrigerant is a blend of fluids designed to complete the heat transfer process of a refrigeration cycle. A refrigerant can effectively absorb and release heat from the air as it flows through the cooling tubes and copper coils. It can change the state from liquid to gas at certain temperatures of the refrigeration cycle.
When the technician refers to “low gas” or an “AC recharge service”, they are referring to services related to the refrigerant. There are different types of refrigerants depending on the type of air conditioner. Over time, refrigerants have become more efficient in the cooling process and more environmentally friendly compared to earlier types.
Compressor
If the refrigerant is the blood of the air conditioner, then the compressor is the heart. To complete the refrigeration cycle, the refrigerant needs to be compressed or pressurized to raise its temperature. As heat flows from a hotter body to a colder body, the high-temperature refrigerant can carry and dispense the heat outdoors. This allows the heat to be removed from the air that flows into the interior. This process is completed with the use of a compressor, which is usually located in the outdoor unit of the air conditioner. The compressor is connected to the inner unit using a refrigeration tube.
Condenser
The condenser is also located in the outer unit of the air conditioner. The condenser receives a high-temperature pressurized refrigerant from the compressor. The coils of the condenser are designed to complete the heat transfer from the hot refrigerant to the outdoors. The condenser has a fan that helps dissipate the heat transferred from the refrigerant. As the refrigerant cools down, it turns into a liquid state and flows into the expansion valve, where is it depressurized to cool down.
Expansive Valve
Before the refrigerant is ready to go to the evaporator coils from the compressor, it needs to be cooled. This is achieved through an expansion valve, also known as the metering device. When the pressure of the refrigerant decreases, the temperature also goes down. This is based on the Ideal Gas Law. The expansion valve reduces the pressure, allowing the refrigerant to cool down. Another role of the expansive valve is to control the flow rate of the refrigerant into the evaporator coils.
Evaporator
All evaporator is usually located in the indoor unit of the air conditioner. It is an important component for the cooling of the air that flows through the system. The evaporator coils are mostly made from copper, which is a good conductor of heat. The copper coils of the evaporator contain the depressurized refrigerant. This makes the temperature of the copper coils of the evaporator very cold. As the air passes through the copper coils, the heat from the air is absorbed the copper coils, reducing the temperature of the air that flows into the interior. The blower fan in the indoor unit of the air conditioner helps to blow air over the copper coils. At this point, the refrigeration cycle is complete. This cycle is continuously repeated to cool the air that from the outdoor to the indoor.
Contact Us at North Point Air Conditioning & Heating for Heating and Cooling Services
At North Point Air Conditioning & Heating, we offer a full range of heating, cooling, and air conditioning (HVAC) services. We serve residents of Spring, TX, and all surrounding locations. Our technicians can perform air conditioner repair and cooling installation service, heating repair and furnace installation, insulation services, commercial services, and more. To schedule a service with us, you can contact us through our North Point Air Conditioning & Heating website or give us a call. We are proud to have all our technicians trained, experienced, and certified in performing HVAC services. We offer affordable prices for services and parts. Contact us now to schedule a service.
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