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Split systems are installed for air conditioning residential premises and administrative buildings. various types and types. A split system is a device consisting of two blocks: external and internal. The first is taken outside, the second is installed in the room. Both modules are connected to each other copper pipeline, through which the working gas (freon) circulates, and electrical communications.

Types of split systems and types of indoor units

Species is a more general concept that applies to technical devices climate control regarding their purpose for certain buildings. The type has a narrow semantic focus, which means some feature of the structure or design.

Split systems are divided into both types and types. There are two types of two-component installations: domestic and commercial or semi-industrial. The former are installed in apartments or small offices, the latter in shops, hairdressers and other similar establishments.

All split systems are divided into types regarding the design and design of the indoor unit:

• wall;
• cassette;
• columned;
• channel;
• floor-ceiling.

Each manufacturer produces split systems with different types of indoor units, completing them with certain functions and a standard set of operating modes, which include cooling and ventilation of the air available in the room. It is the parameters of this part of the system that justify the choice of buyers.

Regardless of the dimensions and external design, any room module consists of:

• heat exchanger (evaporator);
• fan;
• air distribution grille;
• input filter;
• blind guides;
• front panel;
• LEDs;
• temperature sensors.

Filters fine cleaning, winter set and others additional elements available as an option at the request of the customer. The composition may include a mounting plate if the unit is wall-mounted. Operating parameters are set from the remote control. Some models of expensive equipment have the ability to control functionality via the Internet, from a phone or from a central controller.

Operating principle of the indoor air conditioner unit

In general, cooling looks like this: to absorb heat from a room and release coolness, the indoor unit fan draws heated air from the room, after which the process of absorbing heat by the refrigerant begins as it passes through the cold coil.

The refrigerant is a liquid gas (freon), which cools the air. Essentially, it is a heat transfer agent. In the process of transferring cold to the air and taking heat from it, it changes its state, that is, it evaporates. This happens in the heat exchanger of the indoor unit. Here, freon changes from a liquid state to a gaseous state. He took away the heat, the air cooled and flows through the fan back into the room. The heat removal process is already underway outdoor unit.

To put it simply, the role of the indoor module is to take in warm air, cool it and release it back into the room. When the device operates for heating, it, on the contrary, becomes a heat conductor, exchanging functions with the outdoor module. All types of indoor units operate on this principle.

Wall-type indoor units and their dimensions

wall-mounted indoor unit

Household air conditioners include wall-mounted models - the most popular among buyers. They resemble a rectangle or square in shape, like LG wall-mounted appliances from the ART COOL GALLERY series. They are hung on the wall in a place convenient for the user so that the treated air does not escape into the person’s permanent residence.

Pick up required size the indoor unit of the air conditioner relative to the capacity of the room. Each manufacturer has a line of large, standard, and even smaller climate control devices.

The concept of the size of the indoor unit of the air conditioner includes the following values:

• height;
• width;
• depth.

The minimum height can be about 24-25 cm, width - 70-74 cm, and depth - 18-19 cm. For example, a company produces a series wall splits with an internal block depth of only 18 cm, which significantly expands the possibilities of installing such a device at various points in the room.

The maximum height of a wall-mounted room module can reach up to 30-32 cm, width - 110-120 cm, and depth - about 30 cm. For example, the MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC company produces a series of inverter splits with exactly these parameters.

If the indoor unit of the air conditioner has a non-standard design, for example, it is supposed to be located vertically in the room, then these parameters can vary greatly.

As a rule, air conditioners, and not only wall-mounted ones, have a direct relationship between the size of the indoor unit and its internal structure, or more precisely, on the size of the heat exchanger and the space for air blowing it. The smaller they are, the smaller the device, and the worse the performance.

Some manufacturers maintain normal performance while reducing the size by increasing the fan speed, but a new disadvantage appears - increased noise. This is of paramount importance when choosing an air conditioner for an apartment. This trouble can also be avoided by reducing air flow. Although, in any case, a very powerful split cannot have a small internal module.

Today, some manufacturers have turned their attention to the production of non-standard room modules for wall-mounted splits. For example, in the ARTCOOL series LG offers square devices with the ability to change the picture on the case, and surprised everyone with the release of a vertical indoor air conditioner unit with non-standard air distribution in two directions, which is more typical for floor-ceiling models. The GREE company has been offering corner appliances for several years now, but they are difficult to find in Russia.

As a rule, buyers prefer both a vertical indoor air conditioner unit, a corner one, and a square one, either because of space saving or purely out of design preferences.

Semi-industrial air conditioners and their sizes

The remaining types of indoor air conditioner units are classified as semi-industrial equipment, but low-power models of such devices can also be installed in ordinary apartments.

The cassette module has square shapes and fits easily into a cell suspended ceiling. Its dimensions can be 600x600 mm or 800x800 mm, although some manufacturers produce a series of super compact cassettes with dimensions of 500x500 mm.

Along with cassette internal modules, duct devices, which are a hybrid, are sewn into the false ceiling (or wall) air handling unit and air conditioning. They not only cool the room, but can also freely update room air by mixing street water with the help of additional equipment - an air supply unit. For both types of these climate control units, only the distribution grilles are visible from the outside.

The only drawback is that they require at least 30 cm of space between the ceilings for installation.

Column air conditioners look like an elongated cabinet. They are placed in large rooms on the floor where large cooling capacity is required. Their dimensions significantly exceed the dimensions of any wall-mounted model, but this is a necessity, since it is impossible to achieve such power in any other way.

Floor-ceiling splits are quite compact and at the same time quite productive for rooms up to 100-120 m². Their internal block is shaped like a modern radiator. They are easy to care for and use. The main advantage is that there are two ways to mount such an indoor unit: to the wall and to the ceiling. If the module is hung on the wall just above the floor, then the airflow goes in two directions, covering even the most complex and hard-to-reach areas of the room. That is why floor-ceiling models like to be installed in rooms with complex configurations.

Air conditioner specifications

Not only the design, but also specifications the internal unit of the air conditioner determine the purchase of one or another system. After all, depending on how correctly they were selected, the device will either work properly or quickly use up its potential.

What main technical characteristics are important when selecting an indoor air conditioner unit for a room? Let's look at the example of the LG air conditioner series ART COOL GALLERY.

For each manufacturer, this data may be supplemented by other parameters, so the technical characteristics of the indoor unit of the air conditioner are usually found either on the nameplate or in the user manual.

Conclusion: any indoor unit is endowed with cooling and heating power (kW), electricity consumption power (kW), air flow (m³/hour), as well as certain dimensions and weight.

With power consumption, the question is a little complicated by the fact that it may not be indicated specifically for the indoor unit. More often in the characteristics they write consumption parameters in general for a split system, while it consumes much less than an external device - on average 100-200 W.

Features of installing an air conditioner

The installation of a wall-mounted room module can be very diverse. Most often, the block is fixed to the right or left of the window and as close to the outside as possible so that the length of the route does not exceed the recommended length of 5 meters. If, if necessary, these values ​​are increased, then the main line is sewn into a groove in the wall or carefully placed in a decorative plastic box along with other connecting communications.

Other types of indoor units are installed in designated areas:

• duct- V suspended structure the ceiling of a room or, to avoid noise, in a non-residential area - in a closet, corridor, restroom;
• cassette– in a suspended ceiling structure so that the airflow from the grille does not go to where people are, but to an unused area;
• floor-ceiling– on the wall 15-20 cm from the floor or on the ceiling in a place from where the air will disperse over the entire surface;
• columnar– on a flat, solid floor.

The indoor unit should not be exposed to direct rays of the sun, and any exposure to heat sources should also be avoided.

Indoor air conditioner unit on the loggia

Sometimes a customer may require installation of an indoor air conditioner unit on a loggia, explaining this by fear of catching a cold, limited space in the room, reluctance to trench a wall or have a long route packed in a box. Another reason for such a request may be the inability to find an area in the room that the residents would not use. This happens when there is a lot of crowding of people in one room.

Is it possible to install an indoor air conditioner unit on a loggia? If so, what requirements must be taken into account?

• Prevents warm air from entering through the window and the cracks underneath it. The glass is covered thick curtains, and the walls are provided with tightness;
• It is necessary to remove the door and window openings between the living area and the loggia so that the treated air can circulate freely throughout the entire area;
• They give preference to inverter models so that under heavy load (and it will certainly be with this arrangement of the device), the compressor does not work in a constant start-stop mode;
• The cold power is taken with a good margin, since to achieve 22°C in the room, the loggia will have to be set to 18°C.

Even when the required conditions are met, problems arise regularly. Firstly, the temperature difference will still be felt. Simply put, the loggia will be at the north pole, while the room will only become slightly cooler. Secondly, the potential of even an inverter will still be used up much faster.

Competent specialists will never advise installing an indoor unit from an air conditioner on a loggia, based on all the points listed.

Methods for attaching an air conditioner to a wall or ceiling

Depending on the type of indoor unit, there are two types of mounting it to the wall or ceiling. Household split systems are hung on mounting plates. This happens according to the following scheme:

• holes are drilled in the wall;
• dowels are inserted into them;
• the mounting plate is screwed on;
• An air conditioner is hung on it.

In this way, the indoor unit is attached to the wall only at wall models. Commercial modules are secured with special pins according to a different scheme:

• mark the places of fastenings on the ceiling;
• drill holes;
• insert collet fasteners;
• studs are screwed into them;
• a block is hung on studs;
• tighten the nuts.

It is worth remembering that the installation of duct systems with air ducts is carried out at the stage of construction and repair work. Other splits can be installed at any time.

Schematic diagrams of an air conditioner

To correctly install the indoor module, use the electrical circuit diagrams of the air conditioner, which indicate all interconnections and their connection points. It is impossible to carry out installation without them, since there is no single scheme, and for different types The modules are completely different. The same goes for on/off and inverter splits.

Each manufacturer's diagram of an indoor unit of the same type can vary greatly, so they use only the one included in the manufacturer's manual.

Air conditioner maintenance and troubleshooting

Each split system requires regular maintenance, which involves cleaning the units from external and internal contaminants, as well as diagnosing faults and refilling with freon as necessary.

Is there any way I can clean the indoor unit of my air conditioner at home? Yes, this is possible, but it is undesirable, since an inexperienced user can damage any part of the device. If, after all, it is not possible to call a technician, then the person must know how to disassemble the internal unit of the air conditioner in order to wash the filters, fan and heat exchanger.

First they shoot decorative panel, to do this, press the latches on the sides, and the housing cover comes off easily. Then carefully remove the filters, fan, condensate collection tray and wash them under running water. The heat exchanger is wiped with a damp cloth, since it is a stationary part. After cleaning, all elements are wiped dry and installed back.

At the end of the article, you can watch a video on how to disassemble the indoor unit of an air conditioner and how to clean it without the help of specialists.

To carry out these actions, you will need a soft microfiber cloth and special foam for cleaning split systems.

Even if there are no problems with how to clean and disassemble the internal unit of the air conditioner, the user himself will not be able to perform refueling and diagnostics, so he will have to call specialists with professional equipment and materials.

In what cases may you still need the help of a specialist? The user should be wary of the following points:

• poor cooling;
• unusual noises and vibrations;
• block freezing;
• inability to turn on the air conditioner;
• The device goes into fault code mode.

Many users are interested in why the indoor unit of an air conditioner freezes and how serious it is. This sign indicates that:

• there is not enough freon in the split system;
• severe contamination of some working units and filters occurred;
• the device is used at an unacceptable temperature.

By measuring the operating pressure, the technician will immediately determine if there is actually not enough freon in the system. You can see the dirty internal elements yourself by removing the housing cover. Also, the cause of freezing of the indoor unit of the air conditioner can be a route that is too long, which the installers simply did not refill during installation.

If any deviations are noticed in the operation of any type of split system, you must immediately invite a specialist.

The power consumption of split systems is determined by two factors: cooling/heating time and compressor speed. In the case of an inverter, the compressor operates at one speed, the speed of the compressor remains unchanged throughout the entire operation until the device turns off. Power consumption is determined by the operating time of the device in hours, multiplied by its power.

The power consumption of inverter split systems can be monitored in real time by matching the temperature of the thermostat and the reduction in compressor speed, thereby reducing energy consumption immediately.

Residential air conditioners are equipped with an EER rating. EER stands for Energy Efficiency RATIO. EER is the ratio of cooling capacity to power consumption. So a 24,000 BTU split with EER 10 consumes 2,400 watts (24,000/2,400). Air conditioners with EER 10 and higher are very common on the market, so Kuban Comfort does not recommend purchasing units with EER less than 10.

Due to the exceptionally high power consumption of air conditioners, they tend to be made with an EER rating above 11. Such models are easy to find.

Impact of block size on consumption. Air conditioning and power.

In some cases, very large blocks have a slightly lower EER (meaning they use more energy) than other blocks on average. However, smaller air conditioners may end up costing you more in the long run. Small split systems or air conditioners for cooling a room work longer, and sometimes without stopping. To avoid running small units constantly, people often buy larger units (9000 BTU for a 20 square meter room, for example). It is worth considering the shady and sunny sides of the building if the room is on sunny side, then it’s worth taking a more powerful split, a shadow one - the appropriate one will do (7000 BTU for a 20 square meter room, for example).

Air conditioner power consumption and unit size (ERR calculated relative to BTU, not kW).

Split systems and air conditioners 5000 BTU (5)

5000 BTU (Five) air conditioners are not the smallest on the market, but they are rare and Kuban Comfort does not recommend them. 5000 BTU air conditioners or splits are recommended for rooms less than 20 square meters (ideally less than 15 square meters). Most often, “fives” do not have a heating function, but only cooling, keep this in mind.
For a room up to 24 square meters, a 7000-8000 BTU split (Seven, Eight) is suitable.
The power consumption of a 5000 BTU air conditioner is on average from 446 to 580 W (statistics are higher for windows, since splits of such power are rare).

Split systems and air conditioners 7000 BTU (7)

7000 BTU split systems (Seven), the most popular in Russia, are most often designed for rooms of 20-25 square meters, if taken for large area, then more is expected high consumption electricity and approximately 15-25% reduced service life (for example, for 25-35 square meters).
The power consumption of 7000 BTU air conditioners (splits) ranges from 600-800 watts. Also read below about the difference between a cheap and more expensive air conditioner.

Split systems and air conditioners 9000 BTU (9)

The power consumption of 9000 BTU air conditioners ranges from 800-900 watts (if a 9000 BTU unit draws more than 900 watts, it is inefficient and you are better off finding another model). Nine splits are recommended for rooms with an area of ​​26-35 square meters (this average value also applies to the window and split system).
If you are interested in purchasing a 9000 BTU unit for 35-40 square feet, you may want to look at 12000 BTU splits as they will cool your room faster and better. They will consume less energy than smaller units because they will not work constantly than smaller ones (in this case, Kuban Comfort means an inverter).
You can find the highest EER air conditioner, call us and we will tell you which is the most efficient.

Split systems and air conditioners 12000 BTU (12)

12,000 BTU split systems consume between 1061 (EER: 11.3) and 1333 watts (EER: 9, which is a bit low by today's standards). EER 11.3 is average for modern 12,000 BTU splits, translating to a wattage of 1,061 watts. Don't buy anything less than 11.3 (in other words, don't buy anything over 1061 watts). Splits with EER 11.3 are so frequent that you won't have any problems finding them. Your wallet will thank you later.
12,000 BTU is recommended for rooms ranging from 35 to 50 square meters.

Split systems and air conditioners 18000 BTU (18)

Split systems and air conditioners 24000 BTU (24)

24,000 BTU splits are slightly less efficient than their smaller counterparts, with an EER range of 8.5 to 9.6 for modern units. They typically consume between 2500 and 2823 watts. Despite their comparatively low efficiency, these units are among the most widely used because they cool rooms very quickly. For this reason, they are still a good option.

In Russia, the power consumption of a 24,000 BTU residential air conditioner averages 228 kWh per month, and these units are recommended for rooms ranging from 72 to 120 square meters, but this is not a requirement. These devices can be used in small spaces.

Reduction of electricity during air conditioning. Use, cooling on a budget.

After viewing the power consumption data above, you may be concerned about the high energy use of air conditioners, but don't worry, Kuban Comfort will tell you how to save.

Service

Air conditioners must move air through many tiny honeycombs in order to operate efficiently. Make sure the filters are clean, as are the condenser and evaporator honeycombs. If any of the listed attributes are dirty, the cooling will be poor.

A clogged condenser with insufficient airflow can cause overheating, reducing its ability to dissipate heat to the outside (lower efficiency) and also damage the compressor. A dirty evaporator can freeze, significantly reducing efficiency and rendering. The same applies to filters. It hasn't been cleaned for a long time, call a professional to clean it.

Use white curtains

White curtains can reflect a significant amount of hot sunlight back out. sunlight turns into heat after he enters your room.

The difference between cheap and more expensive split systems

What is the difference and is it worth paying extra? Cheap splits are cheaper due to the use of more thin metal in pipes and radiators, due to cheaper electronics, plastic and due to a cheaper compressor. Now, in order: the electronics in this case have the smallest discrepancy with expensive models and is approximately 2-3 years difference in the operation of this unit; in expensive splits, the electronics work longer. Next we have a compressor, today even cheap compressors are made with high quality and the difference in terms is the same as with electronics. Cheap plastic turns yellow, expensive plastic does not. But using thin metal will lead to more frequent leaks and require more frequent maintenance. Kuban Comfort recommends buying more expensive and well-known brands that you will enjoy.

Today, split systems are popular to maintain a favorable indoor microclimate. They consist of two parts: an external and an internal block. The outdoor unit of the air conditioner is key to quality work equipment. Let's understand its structure, operating principles and features of installation and maintenance.

Equipment design

The external unit of the split system is called a compressor-condensing unit (KKB). This key element climatic equipment that provides cooling or heating by changing the state of the refrigerant (working substance). KKB is a building that houses:

• compressor;
• condenser (heat exchanger);
• expansion coils;
• capillary tubes;
• 4-way valve;
• filter drier (receiver);
• fan.

The outdoor unit of the air conditioner is connected to the indoor equipment through a system of freon (heat-insulating copper) lines. There is a drainage line from the indoor unit to the outdoor unit.

The KKB body is made of galvanized steel.

Features of the package

A number of KKB models are equipped with a special “winter kit”. It is designed to maintain the operation of the device in winter time years at low temperatures. The winter kit works only for cooling, so it is optimal for installation in server rooms and other rooms with high level heat generation.

It includes the following elements:

• The fan control controller turns off the ventilation and turns it on when the condenser heats up.
• Heating of the drainage tube.
• Heating the compressor crankcase before starting.

The general principle of operation of a split system can be described as follows: warm air is removed from the room and discharged outside, cooled air is supplied in the opposite direction, which loses temperature as it passes through the air conditioner and comes into contact with the refrigerant.

When switching the split system mode to heating, the reverse process occurs. External unit absorbs cold air from outside and raises the temperature to the required level. The indoor unit supplies heated air to the room.

KKB operates at the expense of physical properties a refrigerant that transfers energy when its state of aggregation changes.

The outdoor unit of the air conditioner works as follows:

1. The working substance in a gaseous state is supplied from the container to the compressor.
2. From the compressor under high pressure The refrigerant enters the condenser, where it turns into liquid, giving off heat.
3. Having lost some of the energy, freon enters the main line.
4. From the main line, the working substance passes into the throttling device, where it loses pressure and cools.
5. The cold liquid is transferred to the evaporator, where it actively circulates through the tubes.
6. The evaporator is blown with warm supply air using a fan.
7. Cold air is supplied to the room.
8. Warm supply air heats the heat exchanger by passing through it before being supplied to the room.
9. The heat exchanger heats the refrigerant, which turns into gas.
10. Freon, turning into a gaseous state, gives off cold to the air. From the heat exchanger, the refrigerant gas flows back into the compressor, where the process is repeated.
11. A closed work cycle is created.

Main settings

When choosing and purchasing an external unit for a split system, you need to pay attention to four main characteristics:

• Size, height, width, length.
• Power.
• Length of highways.

The dimensional dimensions of external units depend on the power and functionality of the equipment.

Average dimensional characteristics of the outdoor unit of a split system:

• width 80 cm;
• height 50 cm;
• thickness 30 cm.

Models offered on the market may have different capacities. It all depends on the purpose of the equipment. A standard household split system has a power that can cover a space of up to 100 square meters. m.

An important characteristic of the external unit is noise. If the indoor air conditioner operates without noise, the external unit can cause significant inconvenience to the neighbors. When choosing a model, it is better to clarify the noise level produced during operation of the external unit. The permissible value is 32 dB.

It is also necessary to pay attention to the permissible length of connecting lines between blocks.

The distance stated in the technical data sheet of the model must not be exceeded, as this may lead to a serious reduction in the efficiency of the equipment.

Installing an external unit involves several steps. At the first stage, the installation location is determined, equipment and tools are prepared. At the second stage, marking and direct fixation of the equipment are carried out. At the third stage, performance checks and testing are carried out.

Selecting a location

Constructions modern buildings (apartment buildings, shopping and office centers) provide for the installation of air conditioners and split systems. This point is laid down during design. Special boxes are installed on the facades of buildings. They solve two key problems. Firstly, the likelihood that the fastener will be performed poorly is minimized. Secondly, the boxes are harmoniously integrated into the design of the building and do not spoil its appearance.

If there are no boxes in the building, then the choice of location should be made taking into account the following factors.

General rules for choosing a location for an air conditioner:

1. The block is mounted on the wall adjacent to the apartment. You cannot fix the device on the “neighbors’ territory.” Before starting work, you need to check whether it is possible to install air conditioners on the façade of the building. The city authorities may issue a resolution according to which such work is prohibited because it spoils the historical or cultural appearance of the building. There may be other reasons for the ban.
2. The optimal installation locations are the space under the window, slightly below the window sill, and a place on the side of the window. This arrangement will make it easier installation work and will allow for easy maintenance.
3. If the block cannot be mounted on the facade, you can install it inside open balcony or loggias.

Installation tool

Before starting work, you must prepare a set of tools. To install an external unit you will need:

• perforator;
• a drill for drilling a hole in the wall through which the main will be laid;
• drills for making holes for fixing brackets;
• Vacuum pump, with the help of which moisture and air are removed from the freon circuit;
• a pressure gauge manifold for connecting a cylinder with refrigerant to a container in the block;
• a set of rolling tools that are needed for rolling copper tubes when connecting to air conditioner valves;
• pipe cutter for cutting copper pipes;
• pipe bender for forming bends on tubes;
• standard set wrenches, hexagons, screwdrivers, wire cutters, level gauge.

When installing, be sure to take into account the following rules:

• Availability of receipt fresh air. It is impossible to install the external unit in a confined space without air access and or with limited air supply (glazed loggia). Such an error will lead to overheating and damage to the control unit.
• During operation, the refrigerant will have to be changed periodically. To do this, the valves must be positioned so that the technician can replace them freely and without risk. For most models, the valve is located on the left side.
• It is necessary to provide proper drainage of condensate so that it does not fall on the walls, canopy or sidewalk.
• The fasteners must be mounted on bearing structures, which must be designed for a load of several tens of kilograms. The brackets cannot be fixed to walls made of aerated concrete, to the external decorative cladding layer or to the insulation layer.
• The distance from the wall to the unit should be at least 10 cm. This distance will ensure ventilation and reduce the risk of overheating of the device. The distance from the wall to the inner wall of the unit should not be too large. The hidden wall of the block should not be exposed to direct sunlight.
• When laying connecting lines, you should avoid large quantity bends, because they will lead to a decrease in the required flow rate of the refrigerant, this will reduce the efficiency of the air conditioner.
• It is recommended to equip a cornice that will protect the external unit of the air conditioner from direct moisture.

Installation to the wall is carried out using special brackets, which are usually included in the package. It has the form of a profile of various sections, bent at an angle of 90 degrees. It has several holes: some for fixing to the wall, others for mounting the block. Load bearing capacity brackets exceed the weight of the air conditioner several times, so their use will ensure safety and reliability.

Installation process

Step-by-step instructions for installing an external air conditioner unit:

1. The location of the block on the wall, holes and channels for the main lines are marked. The key parameters mentioned above are taken into account.
2. Holes are made in the wall for brackets.
3. A hole is made in the wall for communications. A box is placed in the hole into which the freon and drain lines and electrical wiring are laid.
4. Brackets are fixed. To fix them, they are used anchor bolts or dowels with capercaillies. The block is mounted on the brackets. It is fixed with bolts.
5. Strength, reliability and stability are tested.
6. The freon tubes are chamfered and flared. The tubes are connected to the block.
7. Wires are installed in the KKB. Their optimal length is measured, they are stripped and connected to terminal block. Each wire is connected in accordance with electrical diagram, which should be attached to technical passport devices.
8. After installing the indoor unit, a vacuum pump is connected to the KKB, with the help of which air is dried and pumped out from the lines and internal elements block.
9. A protective box is put on.
10. The refrigerant container is filled with freon. A test run of the equipment is carried out, modes and correct operation are checked.

Breakdowns and malfunctions

Like any other device, the outdoor unit of the air conditioner can break down. At low temperatures in winter, using an air conditioner without a winter kit can lead to compressor failure. The external unit, under the influence of external natural factors, becomes very cold and freezes. Under such conditions, freon cannot boil in the external unit. Liquid refrigerant enters the compressor, which leads to its failure.

To avoid compressor breakdowns due to freezing of the external unit, you should install a winter kit or use the device in accordance with technical instructions: heat the room only in autumn and spring at positive outside temperatures.

Another possible appearance mechanical breakdowns - failure of the fan that pumps air into the unit. Premature wear of the fan can be caused by dirt and dust getting inside the unit.

Faults in electronics are associated with failure of control and operation control boards. Problems with the integrity of electrical networks may arise.

Maintenance and care

In standard operating mode, the external unit requires a preventive inspection as part of maintenance once every 6 months. The technician inspects the fasteners, checks the integrity and level of contamination of the filters, specifies the amount of refrigerant and measures the operating pressure of the networks.

The greatest difficulty during maintenance is replacing the working fluid.

The refrigerant is chemical, which poses a health hazard, so you should trust a professional to work with it. You can check the condition of the filters and remove dust and dirt yourself.

MEL Group of Companies - wholesale supplier of air conditioning systemsMitsubishiHeavyIndustries.

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Before considering such a seemingly simple topic as the maximum length of air conditioner pipelines (open the manufacturer’s catalog and see what the maximum length is), I want to ask one question: what is an ENGINEER in our specialty? The one that looks at the catalog and spits out what it says? But this can be done by an ordinary manager; knowledge of hydraulics and thermodynamics is not required. Probably, an engineer is a specialist who sees a little deeper than the catalog numbers. A specialist who can explain where these numbers come from.

I remember there was an argument with a respected person who, in defense of the catalogs, said the following phrase: “If I have instructions on how to build a BLUE house, then I cannot build a RED house using it, because this would be a violation of the instructions..."

So, an ENGINEER is probably a person who can build a “house” of any color: understanding what a foundation is, load-bearing walls, floors and roofing of the building. It doesn’t matter what color the house will be.

Split air conditioning systems have one important characteristic – maximum distance from the outdoor unit to the indoor unit. Moreover, in real objects this parameter often becomes decisive when choosing an air conditioner. The greater the cold performance of the air conditioner, the greater the length of the air conditioner route the manufacturer allows (Table 1 using the example of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries).

Table 1.

For models with 2 kW of cold, the maximum length of the route for the air conditioner is, as a rule, 15 meters, and for semi-industrial models of 7 kW and above - up to 50 meters. For some models, the length of pipelines can reach 100 meters.

But one thing is often forgotten important detail– the performance of the air conditioner in the catalogs is indicated for a standard pipeline length of 7.5 meters, and with a maximum length the performance of the air conditioner will be less. How much less - let's look at these tables:

Table 2.

Equivalent length is the length of a straight pipeline, the pressure loss in which is the same as the real one (with local resistances).

In principle, power losses are not large - for the 50th model with a length of 30 meters (equivalent length), losses during cold operation are only 3.4% of power. On the other hand, for the 140th model, the losses for 50 meters of length are already 17%.

Now we need to pay attention to the theory.

In Fig. Figure 1 shows a classic freon cycle in an air conditioner circuit. Moreover, please note that this is a cycle for ANY systems using R410A freon; the cycle does not depend on the performance of the air conditioner or brand. Let's start from point D, with the parameters at which (temperature 75C, pressure 27.2 bar) freon enters the condenser of the outdoor unit. Freon at the moment is a superheated gas, which first cools to a saturation temperature (about 45C), then begins to condense and at point A, completely transforms from gas to liquid. Then the liquid is supercooled to point A’ (temperature 40C). It is believed that the optimal value of hypothermia is 5C. After the heat exchanger of the outdoor unit, the refrigerant enters the throttling device (TRV or capillary) and its parameters change to point B (temperature 5C, pressure 9.3 bar). Moreover, it is important that after throttling, it is a mixture of liquid and gas that enters the liquid pipeline. How larger value overcooling of freon in the condenser, the greater the proportion of liquid freon enters the indoor unit, the higher the efficiency of the air conditioner.

B-C is the process of freon boiling in the indoor unit with a constant temperature of about 5C, C-C’ is the overheating of freon to +10C.

C’ – L – the process of freon being sucked into the compressor and pressure loss at the same time. Similar process D’ – M.

L – M - the process of compressing freon gas in a compressor with increasing pressure and temperature.

Rice. 1. Freon cycle refrigeration machine on the I-lgP diagram

Parameters of R410A freon at key points of the refrigeration cycle

Pressure losses in the system depend on the freon speed V and the hydraulic characteristics of the network:

Liquid pipeline – 0.3-1.2 m/s

Gas pipeline – 6-12 m/s

What will happen to the air conditioner when the hydraulic characteristics of the network increase (due to increased length or a large number local resistance)? Increased pressure losses in the gas pipeline will lead to a drop in pressure at the compressor inlet. The compressor will capture refrigerant of lower pressure and therefore lower density. Refrigerant consumption will drop. At the outlet, the compressor will produce less pressure and the condensation temperature will drop. A lower condensation temperature will lead to a lower evaporation temperature and freezing gas pipeline.

If increased losses pressure will occur in the liquid pipeline, the process is even more interesting: Since we found out that freon flows in the liquid pipeline in a saturated state, or rather even a mixture of liquid and gas bubbles, then any pressure loss will lead to a slight boiling of the refrigerant and an increase in the proportion gas. An increase in the proportion of gas will lead to a sharp increase in the volume of the vapor-gas mixture and an increase in the speed of movement through the liquid pipeline. Increased speed movement will again cause increased pressure losses and the process will be “avalanche-like”. Here is a conditional graph of specific pressure losses depending on the speed of movement of freon in the pipeline:

Rice. 2. Freon pressure loss along the length of pipelines.

It can also be viewed as a graph of pressure loss along the length. If, for example, the pressure loss with a pipeline length of 15 meters is 400 Pa, then when the pipeline length is doubled - up to 30 meters, the losses increase not twice to 800 Pa, but 7 times to 2800 Pa. Therefore, simply increasing the length of pipelines by two times relative to its standard lengths fatal for air conditioning.

How to correctly increase the length of routes beyond the standard permissible values?

To do this, two problems need to be solved:

Problem 1 – the problem of increased pressure losses along the length in pipelines.

As we found out, increased pressure losses lead to a sharp decrease in the cold power of the air conditioner, a decrease in freon consumption and overheating of the compressor. Which in turn will lead to jamming or burning of the motor windings. To prevent this from happening, we must reduce the specific pressure loss by reducing the speed of movement in the pipelines. Those. just increase the diameters of the pipelines. Reducing the speed of movement of freon by half reduces pressure loss by 4 times (formula 1) and, accordingly, allows the length of pipelines to be increased by the same amount.

To check this on real equipment, let's look again at Table 2: cold power losses for the 71st and 140th models at a length of 50 meters.

71st model correction coefficient 0.94. Losses 6%

140-ya model correction coefficient 0.829. Losses 17.1%

This means that pressure loss decreased by 17.1/6 = 2.85 times

The 140th model is exactly twice as powerful as the 71st, and the pipelines are the same (3/8 and 5/8). Therefore, the speed of movement of freon is exactly two times less. The pressure loss, which follows a quadratic dependence on speed, should be about 36%. In fact, less, because the reference point is not from 0 meters, but from 7.5 meters.

That is, when the freon speed is halved, the pressure loss is also reduced by at least two times (in practice, more than two times).

Now let's look again at Table 1:

The 6.35mm liquid line diameter works on both a 2.0kW system and a 7.1kW system. On the 7 kW model, the length of the pipes can reach 30 meters, which means that there are no critical pressure losses at such a length. The available compressor pressure, as we have already found out, does not depend on the power of the air conditioner. Therefore, the same liquid pipelines for models from 2 to 7 kW are explained by the absence of pipes of smaller diameter. For models from 2 to 5 kW, the liquid pipeline is taken “with a reserve”.

But the diameter of the gas pipeline is chosen closer to the real values, so its cross-section varies from 9.52 mm to 15.88 mm.

Taking into account all of the above, we can create the following table:

Table 3. Magnification permissible length pipelines when their diameter changes.

Power loss at the specified maximum length will be from 10% to 15%. As follows from Table 2, MHI power losses are allowed up to 20%.

Problem 2 – oil return to the compressor.

By increasing the diameter of the gas pipeline, we reduce the speed of movement of the refrigerant, which means that the effect of oil separation and stagnation in pipelines and “oil traps” may occur. To prevent this from happening, some MHI outdoor units are equipped with special devices - oil separators.

Rice. 3. Diagram of the freon circuit of outdoor units FDC200 (250) VS

Table 5. Power losses of outdoor units 200 and 250 index for different gas pipeline diameters.

But most outdoor vehicles do not have oil separators. On the other hand, the problem of oil separation was more typical for R22 freon. Firstly, because the viscosity of mineral oil used with R22 freon is greater than that of polyester oil for R410A freon. Secondly, the density of R410A is higher, the available pressure is higher, so the diameters of the pipelines are 1-2 sizes smaller.

In any case, an increase in the diameter of gas pipelines is allowed IN HORIZONTAL AREAS. Those. on vertical sections of the pipeline it is necessary to use a standard (catalog) diameter, and on horizontal sections you can switch to a diameter of a larger cross-section.

Example:

In a residential complex in Perm, on each floor of the building there are special rooms for outdoor air conditioning units. But the length of the pipelines that arises in this case reaches 40 meters. Maximum route length household split systems of any manufacturer maximum 25 meters. However, if the diameter of the gas pipeline is increased to 1/2, the length of the air conditioner pipeline can reach 40 meters. Household model SRK35ZJ-S has been installed. The area near the outdoor unit is performed as standard (1/4, 3/8), then a transition is made at approximately a distance of 1 meter gas pipe to a diameter of ½ on the solder, and then near the internal block, switch back to 3/8. Liquid pipe unchanged.

More than 10 air conditioners have already been installed using this scheme. The very first one was more than 2 years ago. All air conditioners work fine.

Conclusions.

1. Increase maximum length Air conditioner routes are possible by increasing the diameter of the pipelines. Recommendations for the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries brand are shown in Table 3.
2. Increasing the diameter of the gas pipeline is possible only in horizontal sections.

In this case, it is necessary to carry out additional refrigerant charging for the increased length of the liquid pipeline according to Table 4.

Air conditioning has long become a common household appliance. Of the variety of devices for air cooling, the most popular are split systems, consisting of two unit blocks, one of which is installed outside the room, and the other is located inside. The indoor unit of an air conditioner is a complex device that takes warm air from the premises and sends it back already chilled.

Any air conditioner functions due to the properties of liquids to release thermal energy when releasing liquid and absorbing heat when it evaporates.

The indoor unit is always placed indoors (usually mounted on the wall or ceiling), and the outdoor unit is taken outside. Both units are connected to each other by electrical wiring and a copper pipeline, through which freon continuously circulates during operation.

Regardless of the design and dimensions, the indoor unit of a split system must have the following components in its design:

• Compressor. Responsible for compressing the refrigerant and circulating it through a closed circuit.
• Evaporator (heat exchanger). In this radiator, freon is converted from liquid to gas.
• Fan. Pumps up air flow, going to the evaporator.
• Thermostatic valve. Helps reduce refrigerant pressure before the evaporator. As a rule, it is a thin, curved spiral copper tube.
• Set of filters. They retain dust and larger fractions of debris inevitably contained in room air.
• Air distribution system.
• Blinds that control the direction of air flow.
• Temperature sensors.
• LED indicators.
• Information table.

Indoor unit design

Note! Since the internal unit of a split system is often located at an unattainable height, the device always includes a remote control.

The external unit is simpler in design, and instead of an evaporator, the device contains a condenser - a unit responsible for the phase transition of freon from a gaseous to a liquid state.