Latest trends in Air Conditioning System

 Latest trends in Air Conditioning System 

• Air Conditioning System: An air conditioner is a system that is used to cool down a space by removing heat from the space and moving it to some outside area. The cool air can then be moved throughout a building through ventilation. Air conditioners act similarly to a heat pump, but instead follow a cooling cycle.  

          To cool, a substance known as a refrigerant is processed in the following steps:

1. A cold liquid refrigerant absorbs heat from the hotter room in the evaporator, cooling the room down.
2. The refrigerant then changes phase to gas and is put through a compressor to increase its temperature. 
3. Refrigerant then passes through the condenser coils, transferring heat from the refrigerant to the outside air. 
4. Refrigerant expands in order to decrease its pressure and cool down to below the room's temperature to repeat the cycle again.

 

•  Window Air Conditioners: 
• These used to be a very common choice for controlling the temperature in a small room. They contain the compressor, condenser, coils and the evaporator all in one single unit. Window air conditioners are designed to fit into the window of a room, so they generally don’t need any significant home modifications for installation. 
• Wall units are very similar, except they need a hole made in the room’s wall in order for them to fit. o Window air conditioners generally have a low up front cost. If you are considering cooling down multiple rooms, you may want to consider a split or ducted system, because they tend to be more efficient. 
• One advantage of window air conditioners is that they can be taken with you when you move houses. This makes them suitable for renters, or those who are considering moving in the near future. 
• Most window air conditioners work in cycles that involve them turning on to cool down or heat up the room, then switching off once the desired temperature is reached. They click back on once the room starts to heat up or cool down again. They tend to not be very energy efficient. 

• Advantages of Window ACs: 

1. Window units are typically less costly and cheaper to operate 
2. Simple to install
3. Easy to maintain 
4. Do not take up your floor space 

•  Disadvantages of Window ACs: 

1. Can be noisy during operation & are visible from outside the home. 
2. They obscure the view from a window and must be located close to a suitable electrical outlet. 

•  Portable Air Conditioners:-  
• Portable air conditioners are relatively easy to move, but not as much as their name implies. Think easier to move houses with, rather than easy to lug around your home for your daily cooling needs. When compared to other units, they are definitely more portable, however they do need to be installed with a window kit. 

• These systems work by drawing in warm air, cooling it, then returning it to the room. The two main types are single and double hose models. Those with single ducts draw warm air from inside the room, cool it and return it to the room, while venting the hot air outside. 
• This causes negative pressure within the room, bringing in more warm air from the rest of the house and from outside. Because of this, single hose models are very inefficient. Some portable air conditioners have a second hose which they use to draw air from outside. 
• This reduces the negative air pressure issues that come with single duct models. Despite this, double hose models still tend to be less efficient than other kinds of air conditioners. 
• Portable air conditioners tend to have relatively low up-front costs. However, in the long run they are likely to cost you more in electricity than other options. It is recommended that you look into other models unless you move frequently, only have a very small space to cool, or don’t plan on using it often. 

• Central Air Conditioner:-
• Advantages of a central AC system: 

1.  It cools all the rooms connected to ducts at once, thus creating a cooler & regulated environment around the house in minimum time. 
2. Since cool air is circulated in all rooms, humidity is reduced around the house, making the overall environment more comfortable.

• Disadvantages of a central air conditioning system: 

1. It consumes a lot of energy resulting in higher energy bills. 
2. Such units may lose efficiency & effectiveness in case a problem arises in the ducts. 

• Ductless Mini-Split:- 
• Advantages of ductless mini-splits: 
1. It can be installed anywhere easily without a lot of hassle and ductwork. 
2. It can control the temperature of each room individually. 

• Disadvantages of ductless mini-splits: 
1. A single ductless mini-split unit is not enough for cooling large homes. 
2. Since the Indoor unit of a ductless mini-split is wall-mounted, therefore, it will be visible to the naked eye. 

• Wall Hung Split or Multi Head Split Air Conditioners: 
• These ductless systems are quite common in modern homes. They are referred to as split systems because they consist of two units, one kept inside your home and one outside. They can be used to cool or heat single areas, or multi-zone systems can be installed. These have one compressor outside, with several indoor units conditioning the air in various parts of your home. 
• Wall hung split and multi head split systems have a relatively high upfront cost compared to the previous two types of air conditioners, but the costs are not as high as ducted air conditioning.  
• Despite the initial expense, they tend to be more efficient than window or portable units, which makes them cheaper in the long run. A wall hung split or multi head split system will require slight modifications to your home, including holes for the piping. To get the best out of the system, make sure you get a professional to install a mini-split for you. 

• Ducted Air Conditioning:- 
• Ducted air conditioning, also known as central air conditioning, can be the most efficient in many situations. 
• A ducted system involves a large compressor on the outside of the building, an internal evaporative unit and ducts that bring conditioned air to various rooms through vents. 
• A ducted system will require some significant modifications to your home and tends to have a high upfront cost. 
• These systems are great for controlling the temperature of a whole home or office, and they can often come out cheaper to install and run than multiple mini-split systems and window units. While they require a large compressor on the outside, they are almost invisible on the inside, except for the vents and controls. 

                                                    Recent Trends in Air Conditioning

• Ubiquitous Sensor Network for Smart Cooling:- 
• Developments in the field of electronics, have made the usage of variegated sensors cinch for heavy electrical appliances. Most of the top AC brand use assorted mix of sensors and sensor technologies to impart smart cooling. 
• Some models come with an intelligent image sensor technology ensure that the users inside the room get an equal attention for an equal cooling comfort while minimizing the wastage of cooling. 
• The image sensor detects number of people in the room, their location, their activity etc. and then cools accordingly to ensure maximum cooling comfort. It also recognizes the shape and size of the room and then regulates its swing angle with a special smart swing feature in a bid to optimize cooling. 
•  Another important feature is it also recognizes human absence in the room for a specified time and switches the AC off automatically to avoid cooling wastage. 

• Improved Air Quality:-
• Air purification features are something homeowners will not get tired of, as they want to enjoy fresher, cleaner air in their homes. 
• Air conditioning units with good filtration systems help to get rid of pollutants that reduce indoor air quality, including debris, dust, dirt or other contaminants. o In fact, some new models now include purification filters that can remove even bad odors. 
• These advanced air filters can also get rid of certain chemicals such as ammonia and hydrogen sulphide, as well as pollen, bacteria and viruses. 

•  Improved Energy Efficiency:-
• Energy-efficient heating and cooling systems have come a long way during the past two decades. If your current HVAC system isn’t Energy Star certified, you could be wasting substantial energy and money every time you heat or cool your home. 
• HVAC systems that have Energy Star certification have met or exceeded national efficiency standards. They can help you go green while lowering your utility bills 

• High-Tech Cooling Features:;
• Keeping your Lockhart home cool doesn’t have to be complicated, especially when you invest in an air conditioner that boasts the latest high-tech cooling features. For example, variable-speed air conditioners have the power to adjust the airflow in your home automatically. They can keep your family comfortable without wasting energy. 
• Scroll compressors can give refrigerant extra pressure and use less energy. They provide air conditioners with more power to cool your home in less time. 

• Smart Thermostats:- 
• If you haven't replaced your old manual thermostat with a Wi-Fi- enabled model yet, this is a great time to take the plunge. The smart thermostats of today can connect to your home’s central hub and become a key part of your smart home. 
• When our team installs a Nest thermostat for your HVAC system, we can connect it to your home’s Wi-Fi network. Not only can a smart thermostat add convenience but it can also help with energy savings. 

•  Aero seal Duct Sealing:-
• Most ductwork systems develop cracks, leaks, and general wear an tear as they age. Over time, this wear and tear can cause A/C efficiency and performance issues. But duct repair and sealing can help.
• In recent years, Aero seal has taken duct sealing to new heights, thanks to its innovative process and great results. This process involves spraying a liquid substance into ductwork, applying pressure to force the material to adhere to cracks and seal leaks. 

• Zoning Systems:-
• If your home is on the large side, a standard HVAC system can’t always keep your family comfortable. That's especially true if your home has more than one floor or areas that receive much more sun exposure.
• Zoning can effectively tum one heating and cooling system into a multifaceted system with two or more areas that have separate climate control settings. 

• Ductless Systems:- 
• If you don't want to deal with ductworks, consider a ductless heat pump or air conditioning system. These mini-split systems connect indoor units directly to outdoor units, and a single unit is designed to cool one room or an isolated part of your home.
• They can be smart additions to parts of your home that can be challenging to heat or cool, such as sunrooms, new additions and newly finished rooms.  

•  Geothermal Heating and Cooling:-
• If you really want to go green, geothermal heating and cooling could be a great investment. This type of system draws energy from the ground under your home, helping you reduce your carbon footprint substantially. 
• A geothermal heat pump can be a major investment. But these durable, low maintenance systems can be great choices if you're seeking a long-term investment. 

• Movement-Activated Air Conditioning:-
• Engineers at MIT have come up with a new air conditioning design that utilizes sensors along aluminium rods hung from the ceiling. Movement then activates these sensors. In other words, the air conditioner only kicks on when people are present.
• A motion-activated system seems like such a simple, ingenious idea that it’s almost baffling it hasn't been tried before now. However, this kind of prototype is just one example of how future HVAC systems are going to be more compact and portable, helping to reduce both energy and utility costs. 

•  Thermally Driven Air Conditioning:-
• Another design that's recently been implemented is thermally driven air conditioning. An Australian company has produced a low cost alternative to traditional to traditional air conditioner units. 
• It is not a widespread technology yet, and it will likely be several years before this kind of design becomes widely available in the United States. However, thermally driven air conditioning is a system that uses solar energy and is supplemented by natural gas, making it a highly efficient and effective system.
• In fact, the double-chiller design provides more cooling capabilities than any other system so far, and it eliminates electricity costs altogether.