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electric air conditioning electricalElectric air conditioners are quite common, in fact, they are the most common type air conditioner. Both electric and gas units cool the building by extracting heat and moisture from the interior then discharging it to the outside air. Some call these units refrigerated air or refrigeration whether electric or gas operated. Most electric units cool by compressing a gas (or fluorocarbon refrigerant) such as freon (which is a brand name) in a compressor (or electric pump). This compression makes the refrigerant hot as it is passed into the condenser radiator but the heat is emitted to the outside air with the condenser fan. The refrigerant becomes a liquid and is pumped to the evaporator coils where it is quickly evaporated into a gas. Evaporation is a cooling process so the evaporator coils become very cold, in fact, so cold that moisture forms on them. This moisture (or condensate) is removed from the inside air and is drained away to the outside or into the sewer system. The air handler or system fan blows air through the evaporator coils where the air is cooled and passed on into the building. The return air register draws the air back into the system where it is passed back over the evaporator coils and cooled again. This is a closed system and is the most effective. Some systems draw air from under the building or from the exterior. Those systems would cool the air only once. Many commercial installations allow (or require) some air to be drawn from the outside. This adds makeup air to the interior. Filters are necessary in air conditioning systems because unfiltered air passing over the evaporator coils would quickly coat the coils with dust and lint. The dust and lint can inhibit air flow causing the air to be in contact with the evaporator coil slightly longer thereby supercooling it. This sometimes makes the occupants think the system is operating effectively when in fact it is struggling. Be sure to change or clean the filter medium every 30 to 60 days. Filters are usually located in the return air register or under the heating system. The normal life span of an electric air conditioner compressor is 10 to 15 years but since all air conditioning systems have their unique properties it is recommended that you place a service contract on the system with an air conditioning contractor. Gas cooling systems operate on natural gas or propane. Some call these systems absorption chillers or gas chillers. their operational characteristics are entirely different from electric air conditioners. There is a small flame present in gas cooling systems so use caution with flammables. The operation of the gas chiller will not be covered here in as much as they are so rare. Try to obtain all the information you can from the sellers regarding the operation and maintenance of the system. gas heater and electric air conditioner Dual-pack or gas pack A-C condenser and evaporator separate together: Water cooled condenser: Window wall air conditioning:
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