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TYPES OF AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS

Following types of air conditioning systems are available in market;

 Unitary air conditioning systems

 Split air conditioning system
 Packaged air conditioning system
 Central air conditioning systems

1.1 Unitary AC Systems / Window Air Conditioner:

This type of unit is designed to cool a single room. In this air conditioner all the components,
namely the compressor, condenser, expansion valve or coil, evaporator and cooling coil are
enclosed in a single box.

And generally installed in windows therefore, they are also known as window air

conditioners.  It is designed to provide free delivery of conditioned air to an enclosed space,
room or zone.

Suitability:

Unitary air conditioners are suitable for bedrooms, office cabins, general office area, hotel
rooms and similar applications where normal comfort conditions are required up to a distance
of 6 m from unitary air conditioner.

Unitary Air conditioners are available with following cooling capacities;

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ITEM NAME TONNAGE (TR) WATTS (W)

.5 1750
1 3500
WINDOW AIR CONDITIONER 1.5 5250
2 7000

3 10500

1.2 Split Air Conditioner:

Split air conditioner has an indoor unit and an outdoor unit interconnected with refrigerant
 piping and power and control wiring & Indoor unit comprises of a filter, evaporator and
evaporator fan for circulation of air in the conditioned space. Outdoor unit has a compressor,
air-cooled condenser with condenser fan housed in a suitable cabinet for outdoor installation.
Split air conditioner includes primary source of refrigeration for cooling and
dehumidification and means for circulation and cleaning of air, with or without external air
distribution ducting.

Split air conditioners may be provided with either reciprocating compressor or scroll
compressor. Scroll compressor generally consumes about 10 to 12 percent less power
compared to reciprocating compressor.

Suitability;
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Split air conditioners are suitable for wide range of applications including residences, small
offices, clubs, restaurants, showrooms, departmental stores, etc.

Types of split air conditioners available may be categorized as under;

1. Exposed indoor unit, which is either a high wall unit or a floor-mounted unit.

2. Furred-in units (ceiling suspended unit), which is mounted in the ceiling and provided
with a duct collar and grille.

3. Ducted indoor unit, which requires ducting for air distribution.

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S. No. ITEM NAME TONNAGE (TR) WATTS (W)

1 TR 3500 W
1 Indoor Exposed Unit
1.5 TR 5250 W

2 TR 7000 W
3 TR 10500 W
2 Furred Unit 1 TR 3500 W
1.5 TR 5250 W
3 TR 10500 W
5 TR 17500 W
3 Ducted split AC units 5.5 TR 19250 W
7.5 TR 26250 W
8.5 TR 29750 W
15 TR 52500 W

1.3 Packaged Air Conditioner:

This type of unit is perfect for cooling multiple rooms or a large space in your home or office.
There are two possible arrangements with the package unit. In the first one, all the
components, namely the compressor, condenser (which can be air cooled or water cooled),
expansion valve and evaporator are housed in a single box. The cooled air is thrown by the
high capacity blower, and it flows through the ducts laid through various rooms. In the
second arrangement, the compressor and condenser are housed in one casing. The
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cool the warm water from the chiller condenser. Following the central air conditioning
system cycle, the heat from the rooms in a building is transferred to chilled water, which is
then transferred into the refrigerant, and finally to the cooling water. The cooling tower is at
the final point of the heat transfer. The heat is transferred to the atmosphere.

The heat in the cooling water is removed by letting moving air come into contact with it.
Water is normally spread out and allowed to drop down by gravity from a height. Plastic
fillings are arranged so as to increase the wetted surface of the water while it is dropping,
while at the same time provide better contact between the air passages and the water.

There are basically 2 types of designs:

Cross Flow
Counter Flow

Cross flow: As the name suggests, the flow of water is at right angles to the flow of air. The
cooling tower for this type of design is usually shaped like a box. Warm water is pumped to
the top of the cooling tower where it is distributed to the sides and allowed to drop through
small holes. Plastic air intake louvers at the sides of the cooling tower allow the water to
spread out while dropping. Air from the outside is sucked into the cooling tower by several
fans located at the top. The incoming air comes into contact with the dropping water, and the
latter is cooled. The cooled water is collected at the bottom of cooling tower. This water is
then pumped out again and circulated through the chiller. The heat from the chiller is
transferred to it again. The warm water then returns back to the top of the cooling tower and
the cycle starts again.

Counter flow: Counter flow cooling towers have the air passage flowing directly
against the flow of the water. As with the cross flow design, water is allowed to
spread out with the help of air inlet louvers. Their bottle like shape characterizes
this type of cooling towers. There is only one single fan at the center. Fitted below
the fan is a rotating water pipe distributor. The pipes of the water distributor shoots
water only from one side. The action of the water pressure shooting from one side
rotates the distributor. The water is thus dropped evenly over the air inlet louvers.
The water dropping by gravity meets head on with the up moving air current
sucked in by the fan. The air cools the water. The water collected at the bottom of
the cooling tower is pumped to the chiller, becomes heated up again, and is then
returned back to the cooling tower for cooling.

Reference:

1) https://www.scienceabc.com/innovation/air-conditioner-ac-work.html
2) Book: Principles of Refrigeration by Roy J. Dossat, fourth edition, Prentice Hall

3) https://www.new-learn.info/packages/clear/index.html
4) https://www.refrigerationschool.com/blog/hvacr/four-types-refrigeration-systems-need-
know/