How air conditioning systems work
Get ready to discover the cool and refreshing world of air conditioning systems!
In a world increasingly characterized by rising temperatures and the want for comfortable surroundings, air conditioning systems have become an indispensable part of our daily life. But how do these wonderful units actually work?
Air conditioning systems are not only simple cooling units. They are rather complex systems which cool, dehumidify, and filter the air. Thanks to a sophisticated interplay of components such as the compressor, capacitor, expansion valve, and evaporator, they enable precise indoor temperature control.
Physics in action with TOSHIBA
In principle, each air conditioning system is a cooling unit like the refrigerator in the kitchen. If it can be used to not only cool the indoor environment, but also heat it, the system in question is a heat pump. All TOSHIBA systems are also heat pumps.
These units are perfect for absorbing the heat in cooling mode and transporting it outside – conversely, heat can be extracted from the surrounding air and used to provide cozy warmth to our rooms in cooling mode. Using an air-to-water heat pump, we not only heat the indoor air, but also prepare hot water for heating and domestic purposes.
However, air conditioning is somewhat more complex than cooling, as it is a matter of ensuring the users' health and wellbeing – not to mention maintaining workers' ability to efficiently exercise their duties in the commercial sector. When it comes to air conditioning, both the humidity and a pleasant indoor temperature are important. The graphic shows the "comfort range" in which the ratio of temperature and humidity is deemed pleasant.
Comfortable climate
The figure shows the comfort range with regard to the indoor air temperature and relative humidity. The range spans from around 18°C to 24°C and 35% to 75% relative humidity.
The heart of the unit – an intelligently controlled twin-rotary compressor – conveys the refrigerant in different physical states to where it is needed to fulfill its role of absorbing heat (cooling) or emitting heat (heating).
In cooling mode, the liquid refrigerant evaporates via an electronically controlled PMV valve. The heat exchanger (evaporator) in the indoor unit cools down and the fan ensures air circulation. This whole process is quiet and doesn't generate any unpleasant drafts with the high-quality units from TOSHIBA.
The evaporated, and now gaseous, refrigerant is drawn in by the compressor in the outdoor unit in order to bring it to a high pressure and temperature again. The fan on the heat exchanger (condenser) cools the gas down using the surrounding air and the cycle starts again from the beginning. The high component quality and workmanship from TOSHIBA are particularly evident in the outdoor unit. The low-vibration and quiet operation of the fan unit and compressor protects the surrounding environment from noise and actively plays a role in ensuring good relations with the neighbors – no matter whether the compact units are installed on a balcony, terrace, or on an exterior wall.
Regarding installation: An air conditioning system only needs small feedthroughs in the wall for both refrigerant lines (made from special copper) as well as a power supply and control line. Your expert TOSHIBA sales partner will find a solution for visually unobtrusive installation in any situation.
