The Components and Operating Principles of Air Conditioners

Air Conditioners are a quite important and familiar device in our lives. The structure and operating principle of Air Conditioners are a concern for many users. Let’s find out with Phuc Gia® in the article below!

See more: Capacity Profile Of Phuc Gia Laboratory Corporation

Table of contents

1. What is an Air Conditioner?

An Air Conditioner is a household appliance that uses electricity to change the room temperature according to the user’s needs.

In the market, Air Conditioners are usually divided into 2 types: Single-mode Air Conditioners and Dual-mode Air Conditioners. Specifically:

Single-mode Air Conditioners only have cooling capability, so it is often called an Air Conditioner.
Dual-mode Air Conditioners have both cooling capability (used in summer) and heating capability (used in winter), which can also be called an Air Conditioner.

2. Air Conditioner’s Components

The structure of an Air Conditioner usually consists of components as below:

Ord.	Component Names	Description – Functions
1	Indoor Unit	– Consists of multi-layered copper tubes placed inside a thick aluminum fin coil, which functions to absorb heat in the room for the refrigerant to carry outside. Additionally, the indoor unit has the following components: front panel, air filter, operating sensor, vertical louvers, air outlet, horizontal louvers, etc.
2	Outdoor Unit	– This component also has a structure similar to the indoor unit, consisting of multi-layered copper tubes placed inside an aluminum fin coil. Its task is to discharge heat to the external environment after the refrigerant has absorbed heat at the indoor unit and moved to the outdoor unit.
3	Compressor	– The Air Conditioner compressor, also called the AC machine, functions to vacuum the indoor unit, compressing the gas into a liquid state in the outdoor unit to ensure the most effective heat discharge process.
4	Evaporator Fan	– This component creates a continuous airflow circulating through the indoor unit for better heat absorption. If the indoor unit fan runs weakly or does not run, the Air Conditioner will not be able to cool.
5	Condenser Fan	– The outdoor unit fan blows air through the outdoor unit, helping the heat discharge to the external environment most effectively.
6	Throttling Valve	– This is the component that lowers the refrigerant pressure after the refrigerant passes through the outdoor unit for heat dissipation. The refrigerant passing through the expansion valve will be converted to a gas state with low pressure and low temperature.
7	Refrigerant Line Pipe	– As an important component, the refrigerant line has the task of transporting refrigerant from the indoor unit to the outdoor unit. The refrigerant line is usually made of copper, can withstand high pressure and temperature, and is not oxidized.
8	Control Board	– Installed on the indoor unit, the control panel is the component that operates and controls all functions of the Air Conditioner.
9	Electrical Capacitor	– The capacitor serves to help start the electric motor of the compressor.
10	Miscellaneous Components	– Besides the main components above, the Air Conditioner structure also includes many other parts such as: indoor unit temperature sensor, chassis, drain pan, safety components, etc.

3. The Operating Principles of an Air Conditioner

We have generally reviewed the structure of the Air Conditioner. So what is the operating mechanism of the Air Conditioner?

Phase 1: After passing through the expansion valve, the refrigerant gas will have low pressure and low temperature.
Phase 2: The refrigerant passing through the indoor unit absorbs heat from the surrounding environment. The indoor unit fan draws in room air, pushes it over the indoor unit to cool it, and then returns it to the room.
Phase 3: The heat-carrying refrigerant is sent to the compressor. Here, the gas is compressed to a higher pressure.
Phase 4: The high-temperature, high-pressure gas is routed through the outdoor unit (condenser) to be cooled by the fan and the aluminum fin coil. After passing through the outdoor unit, the refrigerant will have a lower temperature.
Phase 5: The gas continues to be sent to the expansion valve to reduce pressure and temperature, beginning a new cycle.

4. How to choose an Air Conditioner suitable for the room area

After reviewing the structure and operating principle of the Air Conditioner, here are the notes you need to pay attention to during installation and use for the product to operate effectively and durably. You should choose an Air Conditioner with a capacity suitable for the room area to help the Air Conditioner operate more effectively, durably, and save electricity.

Air Conditioners ~1 HP (9000 BTU): Rooms under $15 m^2$,
Air Conditioners 1.5 HP (12000 BTU): Rooms $15-20 m^2$,
Air Conditioners 2 HP (18000 BTU): Rooms $20-30 m^2$,
Air Conditioners 2.5 HP (24000 BTU): Rooms $30-40 m^2$.

5. Notes when using the product

– Clean the Air Conditioner periodically once a year, preferably at the beginning of summer. The purpose of cleaning is to ensure the indoor and outdoor units are always clean and dust-free, helping the heat exchange capability between the refrigerant in the copper tubes and the outside air to be effective.

– You should choose Air Conditioners with a capacity suitable for the room area to help the Air Conditioners operate more effectively, durably, and save electricity.

– The installation location of the Air Conditioners outdoor unit must ensure coolness, good heat dissipation, no air recirculation, not under a corrugated iron roof, and outdoor units should not be installed close to each other.

In summary, the functionality of Air Conditioners hinges on the seamless interaction of four fundamental components: the compressor, condenser, expansion valve, and evaporator. Together, these parts facilitate the refrigeration cycle, which is the core principle of operation. The compressor pressurizes the refrigerant, causing it to heat up, while the condenser releases this heat to the outside air. Subsequently, the expansion valve drops the refrigerant’s pressure and temperature, preparing it to enter the evaporator coil. It is here that the cold refrigerant absorbs heat from the indoor air, providing the cooling effect we desire. This continuous loop of compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation is what makes modern climate control possible.

Ultimately, a deep understanding of the inner workings of Air Conditioners is key not only for technicians but also for consumers seeking optimal performance and longevity. These essential devices have fundamentally transformed modern living, ensuring thermal comfort in homes and businesses, which impacts productivity and public health globally. Recognizing the roles of each component allows users to appreciate the necessity of proper maintenance, leading to improved energy efficiency and reduced environmental impact. The simple act of cooling an indoor space is achieved through an elegant and powerful thermodynamic process, making the Air Conditioners a cornerstone of contemporary architecture and climate adaptation strategies.

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PHUC GIA LABORATORY CORPORATION
PHUC GIA CERTIFICATION CENTER
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