What are the components of a split air conditioner, and how does it work?
In a split system an outdoor unit houses a compressor, condenser coil and fan. The indoor unit usually houses an expansion valve, evaporator coil, fan and air filter. The air filter cleans air passing through the unit and prevents the evap. coil from getting dirty. Refrigerant is circulated around the system by the compressor which also compresses “spent” gas returning from the evaporator. From the compressor refrigerant gas passes into the condenser where it is cooled by air that is blown over the condenser coil, this air picks up heat from the gas that is hot coming from the compressor. The gas condenses (liquifies) in the condenser and moves to the expansion valve. When the liquid is released to the low pressure side of the expansion valve it flashes to gas, rapidly expending latent heat of vapourisation. This causes the gas to cool rapidly so that it cools the evaporator coil which it passes through next. In the evaporator coil the gas picks up heat from the room air which is ...