How does it work?

How does a/c work actually? Well it work by the mean of heat transfer by utilizing heat radiation transfer theory. In real life, the heat is a source of energy that cannot be seen, but can be feel. This is because heat is a form of radiation energy which we will need a special tool to see it (heat scanner).

Now, how does the a/c work? Easiest way to say, the heat is been absorbed by the evaporator and then it is release to the outside using a condenser. This is the simplest way of explaining. If want to know further detail, then bear with me..


See the number 1 and 2, it show how the surrounding air is being heated and then is cooled

A/C system is a closed system which contain refrigerant as a medium to transfer energy. Heat is a form of energy that can be transfered from one place to another using a radiation wave movement. In a/c, when the refrigerant is been pressurized in compressor, it contain so much energy thus make it hot(heat) to touch. This hot refrigerant then need to transfer its energy to the surrounding when it enter the condenser.



Condenser capture the energy(heat) from refrigerant and then release the energy(heat) by transferring the energy to the surrounding low energy air(lower temperature air). The fan in front the condenser push the surrounding low energy air so that the air can move faster entering and exiting the condenser. The energy in the condenser will travel to surrounding low energy air thus making the air more energize and hot while refrigerant will have less energy and cool down. The refrigerant that is now less energize will become low heat, high pressure liquid and went out from the condenser. At this state, the energy carried by the refrigerant is lower than the surrounding air, as the refrigerant is under high pressure, it will still feel warm to touch even tough the energy(heat) it carry is lower compare to surrounding air.

So the now low energy high pressure liquid state refrigerant will move on to evaporator. Before going into the evaporator, this high pressure, low energy liquid refrigerant will need to undergo depressurization at Expansion Valve first, so that it will enter the evaporator as a low pressure, low energy liquid refrigerant. This i will have future post to talk bout this Expansion Valve. Now i will focus how does a/c work.



This low pressure, low energy refrigerant will capture the energy in the surrounding high energy air while inside the evaporator. The energy in the surrounding air will travel to the refrigerant and release its energy to the low energy refrigerant. This will make the air leave the evaporator as a low energy(cold) air, and refrigerant will become energized and boil into vapor/gas and leave the evaporator.

So it is clear to see, in a/c system, the refrigerant play an important part as it is the only medium for the energy inside the surrounding air to travel to. Thats why when an a/c system is low on refrigerant, the cooling efficiency will drop. But in an a/c system, there is much more things that will cause the cooling efficiency to drop aside from refrigerant alone. I will talk more in my future post.