Central Airconditioning system otherwise commonly referred to as Central A/C is among the most convenient and favored yet energy-efficient ways to tackle humidity, heat, and extreme weather conditions around the world. Heating, ventilation and air conditioning or HVAC systems provide ample options for prospective users and are designed to target individual requirements.
Centralized Air Conditioning operates on the basic principle that heat is absorbed by a liquid when it “evaporates” or converts into a gas. Gaseous refrigerants are compressed to eject hot air thus enabling the production of chilled air. Refrigerants are chemical compounds that turn into gases at low temperatures. They move through the AC system in continuous cycles and absorb the heat from spaces and transfer it outside.
A Central AC system is essentially the distribution of dehumidified and cooled or chilled air, back and forth a room via air ducts or vents and fans. Cold air is blown into spaces by the duct system and expelled through the supply air registers in each area. This cooling or “conditioning” of air is achieved by the compressor of the AC unit usually at a large centralized site, hence the name.
A Central AC system when simplified is comprised of fans for pulling air through the arrangement and then a set of evaporator coils convert the refrigerant from a liquid to a gaseous state. This refrigerant gas is then pressurized by the compressor. Next, the gaseous refrigerant is turned into a liquid state by condenser coils and refrigerant lines are present for ferrying the refrigerant between coils. Lastly, an expansion device is provided to regulate the flow of refrigerant into the evaporator.
Centralized AC systems are much easier to maintain, vastly energy efficient, and less noisy compared to their single unit counterparts. Cleaner air due to sophisticated filtering processes, quieter functioning, and reduced humidity levels make centralized cooling units comfortable and far more desirable than solitary AC units.
A Central AC system can be broadly categorized either as a split system or a packaged unit. As their names suggest, a split-system central AC unit has separate indoor and outdoor sections. The indoor section contains the evaporator unit whereas the outer section has a metal cabinet for holding the condenser and compressor components. In most cases, the indoor section may additionally contain an air handler or a furnace. The main supply duct of the furnace contains the evaporator coil which makes split central ACs an ideal and a highly economical choice for spaces with pre-installed furnaces but no air conditioning systems.
Alternatively, a packaged central AC system holds the evaporator, condenser, and the compressor units in a single cabinet section that can be handily placed at a nearby location. The entire air duct setup to and from homes and other spaces is largely laid outside. Such systems may include either a natural gas furnace or electrical heating coils. A big advantage of an AC and central heater dual setup is the exclusion of a separate indoor furnace.
