How BSRIA Can Help Your Air Conditioning Supplier
Air conditioning is a $48 billion industry that’s been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain disruptions. BSRIA provides knowledge to help the industry respond.
To understand how the shortages affect your business, you need to know about the process that brings equipment to local contractors. This article walks you through the process from manufacturers to distributors to contractors.
Enclosure Air Conditioners
Enclosure air conditioners keep heat-producing power and control electronics in electrical enclosures cool, dry and protected. They evacuate dust, condensation and other contaminants from the cabinet and recirculate clean air to help ensure the safety of equipment in hazardous environments.
Enclosed-loop cooling systems provide constant temperature control with lower operating costs compared to open fans or chillers. They also reduce maintenance by automatically evaporating and flushing the condensate. They use a combination of an adjustable compressor electric fan manufacturer and programmable controller to adapt to changing conditions, maintaining a steady cabinet temperature without the need for manual adjustment.
These small, lightweight air conditioning units are designed for demand-orientated climate control in IT and electrical cabinets and operate with high energy efficiency. They are splash resistant, oil-tight and dust-tight and can be mounted on a wall or in a door using standardized mounting cut-outs. They are fabricated from 304 or 316 stainless steel to resist wash downs and harsh environments.
It is important to select an enclosure air conditioner with a capacity that is correctly sized for the enclosure heat load. If a unit is too big, it will cycle frequently and may lead to premature wear and failure. Conversely, a unit that is too small will struggle to maintain the enclosure temperature during summer peak loads. Use an online enclosure air conditioner capacity calculator to determine the best cooling capacity for your specific application.
Condenser Units
The workhorse of any air conditioning system is the condenser unit. Located outdoors, it resembles a box encased in thin metal fins and contains a compressor that removes heat from refrigerant vapor and turns it back to liquid. It also contains a fan that blows cooling air across the condenser coil, contributing to the cooling process. Then, it releases the cooled refrigerant into the building, cooling and dehumidifying indoor spaces.
The AC condenser unit is one of three primary components in an air conditioning system. The other two are the evaporator and compressor units.
Whether an air conditioner is installed in a single or split system, the condenser unit is housed within a cabinet outside the home or electric fan factory business and connected via copper lines to the indoor evaporator coil inside the building. A control board combines the functions of these components and controls them in concert to cool the building and move cool air throughout its interior.
Keeping the area around an outdoor air conditioning condenser unit clear can help prevent damage and maximize performance and lifespan. This is important to do because a condenser unit is vulnerable to debris, leaves, berries and nuts, flower blooms, and other items that could be sucked into the fan and cause air flow restrictions. Moreover, bushes and trees should be planted with sufficient distance between them to avoid creating a barrier that prevents the flow of cooling air to the condenser.
Evaporator Units
The evaporator coil in the indoor air handler of a central air conditioning system is where the heat-absorbing magic happens. This system component consists of copper tubes through which extremely cold refrigerant passes. When warm air blows across these coils, the heat in the air is absorbed by the cold refrigerant vapor, which cools the incoming air. The blower then circulates this cooled air throughout the home for occupants to enjoy.
As the evaporator coil absorbs and releases heat, the refrigerant continues its journey through the system toward the outdoor unit. Once it arrives at the compressor, it gets pressurized and heated to its super-heated state, so it is able to transfer heat to the surrounding air with greater efficiency.
As it travels back toward the evaporator coil, the refrigerant lets off its own heat into the air by condensing to its liquid state. This is helped along by a fan in the outdoor unit that blows over the condenser’s many coils. This process also helps cool the outdoor unit, which in turn enables it to continue its cycle of absorbing and releasing heat. A clean evaporator coil will perform more efficiently than one covered in dust or grime, which could reduce its ability to absorb heat and thus limit its cooling capabilities. For this reason, regular cleaning is a necessary part of keeping the evaporator coil working well.
Fan Coil Units
Fan coil units (FCUs) are self-contained systems that can ventilate, cool and/or heat air. They can be used in conjunction with ductwork or as standalone applications that require no ducting to work.
FCUs use a combination of refrigerant in an indoor coil and a fan section to circulate the air throughout a space. Depending on the application, the units may be a two-pipe unit (cooling only), a four-pipe unit (both heating and cooling) or a six-pipe unit (cooling and water based heating).
The speed of the fans can be varied via an inline 0-10 Volt signal voltage to each fan motor. This can be controlled by the occupant using a simple three position switch, off-high-medium-low or by the room thermostat. The unit can also be programmed to automatically alter the fan speed, based on a number of external conditions/criteria such as occupancy levels, window switches or time clocks.
FCUs are generally concealed within ceiling voids or encased in trenches. Ceiling void installations are ideal for new developments that need a flexible solution to accommodate both return air grille locations and supply air diffusers. MDL Solutions offers a range of freestanding, wall mounted and ceiling mountable FCUs utilizing European designs that are suitable for both new and existing buildings. We have supplied a wide range of commercial building projects with these state of the art systems, including exclusive condominiums such as the Art Shoppe and 75 Kenmare in Toronto.
