In ancient times, ice was used
to keep the air cool. In England, during the reign of King James I in the 16th
century, salt was added to water to keep it cool. Towards the end of the same
century, ice production and storage began on a commercial basis to keep indoor
climates cool. Mechanical ice making machines were used later. The idea of
cooling the air in the house came from ancient Egypt. There cashew trees were
soaked in water and placed on the windowsill. The air coming through the window
would cool down and enter the house. In ancient Rome, two-tiered walls were
used to keep houses cool. Wells and window towers were used in Iran. During the
reign of the Han Dynasty in China in the 2nd century, inventor Ding Huang built
a three-meter-long fan with seven wings. The prisoners of war used to turn the
fan.
The father of modern air conditioners
Willis Haviland Carrier, an
American engineer, invented the electric air conditioner in 1902 and patented
it in 1908. The ACE of his technology is being used all over the world. In
1915, along with six other engineers, he founded the Career Engineering
Corporation at a cost of 32,600. In 1918, they installed the first AC in a
cattle farm in Chicago. The use of AC in homes started from 1926. Haviland's
career died on October 6, 1950, but career engineering did not stop. United
Technologies bought Career Engineering in 1989, but the brand name has not
changed. Careers are marketed in 180 countries.
Types of AC
Window: This AC is called
window type as the walls have to be cut into squares like windows and placed in
empty space. It is also called a unitary air conditioning system because it
holds everything together, including condensers, evaporators, compressors,
cooling coils, and expansion valves. Window type AC makes quite a noise.
Split: This AC has two units.
Inside one room, another outside. The indoor unit works to increase-decrease
the temperature. The rectangular unit with condenser, compressor and expansion
valve is outside. Noise is less in split AC than in window. This AC is to be
placed by making a small round hole in the wall.
Portable: This portable AC can
be placed anywhere on the floor. Its features are much like a window, which
draws in fresh air and leaves it indoors. And the heat is sent out through the
pipe. There is a lot of noise in portable like windows.
Central: This type of AC is
mainly used in commercial buildings. Central AC has two units. Inside are
compressors, condensing coils and fans. The outer unit has evaporator coil and
expansion valve. Central AC installation is not as easy as other ACs. Usually
such AC has to be installed during the construction of the building. Noise is
low in Central AC. There are also two more types of AC থ Throw the Wall and
Package Terminal.
Air conditioner but not AC!
Many people mistakenly think of
air conditioners as AC. An aircooler basically converts hot air into cold air
by blowing air through a pad soaked in water. In dry and hot weather the room
temperature can drop by a few degrees. Cold air flow as well as increasing the
humidity of the room can make the temperature tolerable. However, air
conditioners are by no means an alternative to AC. Air coolers cost less. No
installation problems. Power consumption is about 80 percent less than AC.
Air conditioner
The short form of air
conditioner is AC. The device is used to ensure a comfortable temperature in
the room. AC also controls room temperature by evaporation and the use of
chemicals. AC is used in homes and commercial establishments.
