Air conditioners remain vital to maintain comfort in houses and businesses. To cool a home, an office space, or even an industrial area, one needs to choose an appropriate type of air conditioner that meets specific requirements. In this guide, we will look at the different types of air conditioners, including both residential and commercial systems and their operation. Moreover, we will categorize air conditioning systems by the technology utilized, for instance, inverter and non-inverter ACs. For each type, we will outline the advantages, disadvantages, and use cases of each air conditioning system.
Types of Residential Air Conditioning Systems
Residential aircon systems are designed for home use. They provide precise temperature control and comfort. Below are the most common types of residential aircon systems:
Window Air Conditioner
This air conditioning system is the most popular type for single rooms and small spaces. A window air conditioner is a self contained or compact unit that fits into a window or a hole in a wall.
How It Works
Every aircon component is preinstalled in window AC system – the compressor, condenser, and evaporator. The system sucks warm air from the room, cools it by passing it over refrigerant-filled coils and pushes the cooled air back into the room. The heat is released outside through the back of the unit.
Pros & cons of window aircon
👍 Cost-effective: Normally easy and inexpensive to buy and install.
👍 Compact: Ideal for single rooms or small spaces.
👍 Ease of installation: Simplified setup without complex ductwork required.
👎 Noisy: The entire unit remains inside the room means the compressor will generate noise.
👎 Limited cooling range: Only effective for small rooms.
👎 Aesthetics: Problematic for the room’s aesthetic and passage of natural light.
Appropriate use:
Best suited for studio apartments, or single rooms in small apartments where space is restricted, and a centralized system isn’t needed.
Split Air Conditioner
A split air conditioner is made of 2 parts: An indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The evaporator and blower are inside the indoor unit while the compressor and condenser are found in the outdoor one.
How it works
Refrigerant circulates between the indoor and outdoor units. It absorbs heat from the air inside and releases energy outside. The room is further cooled by the indoor unit which expels cooled air into the room.
Pros & cons of split aircon
👍 Quiet operation: Noisy components are placed outdoors.
👍 Flexible installation: Can be installed in rooms that do not have windows.
👍 Energy efficient: More energy efficient than window units for larger spaces.
👎 Higher upfront cost: More expensive than window ACs.
👎 Professional installation: Requires an expert to set it up, which adds to the cost.
👎 Requires outdoor space: The range of locations for use is restricted due to insufficient space for the compressor unit outdoors.
Appropriate Use
Ideal for homes lacking ductwork for central air systems. Best for larger rooms or open areas that could not be accommodated by a window unit.
Portable Air Conditioner
These air conditioners are complete units that can be relocated from one room to another. They are equipped with an exhaust hose that releases hot air through a window or vent.
How It Works
As with window units, portable units remove heat from the space by drawing air from the room, cooling it with refrigerant. Then it circulates the cooled air back into the room. An exhaust hose also removes hot air from the room.
Pros & cons of portable aircon
👍 Easier to transport: Movement from one room to another is easy.
👍 Simple installation: No complex equipment is needed, only a window or vent for the exhaust hose.
👍 No need for permanent installation: Renters or anyone seeking temporary cooling solutions can benefit.
👎 Limited power: Lack of strength compared to a split or window unit.
👎 Noisy: The entire system is contained in the room creating noise.
👎 Energy efficiency: Usually less efficient in terms of power consumption .
Appropriate Use
Appropriate for short term cooling solutions in small areas or non-permanent situations where installation option is limited.
Central Air Conditioning ( or Ducted ) System
Central air conditioning system can cool a whole house or even large commercial spaces. Unlike other types of air conditioning, it cools down multiple rooms, also known as zones, at the same time.
How It Works
Important parts of the ducted system include an outdoor compressor and an evaporator coil. Cold air is distributed throughout the whole building using a duct network. After the temperature is set by the thermostat, it turns on and off the system as required to maintain the desired conditions.
Pros & cons of central aircon
👍 Even cooling: Even temperature in different areas of the house.
👍 Increased home value: It is considered luxury home feature and therefore increases a home’s value.
👍 Quieter Operation: The majority of the parts are placed outside the main living areas.
👎 Higher installation cost: Placing the system requires a lot of money.
👎 Requires ductwork: Has to be installed with existing or new ductwork which can be expensive.
👎 Energy usage: Not energy efficient for small homes.
Appropriate Use:
Ideal for large homes or buildings that already have duct work. Good for people looking to control temperature in multiple rooms.
Ductless Mini-Split System
The ductless mini-split system has one outdoor unit which is linked to one or more indoor units, but does not need ducting. Each indoor unit is capable of independent control.
How It Functions
The compressor at the outdoor unit compresses refrigerant and sends it through a conduit leading to the indoor units. The individual units cool the air and circulate it into the room. Thermostats are placed in each of the units.
Pros & cons of ductless mini split system
👍 Energy-efficient: No energy is spent for ducting.
👍 Zoned cooling: Different temperature settings can be used for different rooms.
👍 Quieter operation: They mostly generate sound outside.
👎 Indoor visibility of indoor units: Some people does not like having indoor units.
👎 Professional installation requirement: A professional is required for installation.
Appropriate Use:
Best suited for people or homes who do not have ducting and wish to separately manage or control the temperature of individual rooms.
Types of Commercial Air Conditioning Systems
There are different types of commercial air conditioner systems available in the market. Below are a few of them:
Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) Systems
These systems are usually found in commercial or large-scale buildings. There is one main outdoor unit for multiple indoor units. Individual control per zone is possible in this system.
How It Works
In VRF system, refrigerant circulates through a network of pipes delivering cooling to various indoor units. The system can respond to cooling demand in each zone by controlling the refrigerant flow.
Pros & cons of VRF system
👍 Max energy efficiency: Uses energy only where it’s absolutely needed.
👍 Zoning capabilities: Independent temperature control is possible.
👍 Flexibility: Good for large structures with separate cooling needs.
👎 High initial cost: Expensive to install and set up.
👎 Installation complication: Needs specialized skill for maintenance and installation.
Appropriate Use:
Ideal for large commercial buildings, multi story offices, hotels, or other commercial zones where large areas require individualized cooling.
Chiller Systems
This system is used for larger industrial sites, commercial buildings, and complexes where there’s need for extensive cooling.
How It Works
Chillers circulate chilled water through a system of pipes to provide cooling. Water/ refrigerant removes heat from the building, which is discarded outside using cooling towers.
Pros & cons of chiller system
👍 Scalable: Can provide cooling for industrial buildings and large spaces.
👍 Durable and efficient over long periods.
👎 Installment requires a lot of equipment and adds a significant expense.
👎 Complex upkeep: Requires regular maintenance to operate efficiently.
Appropriate Use:
Great for big commercial buildings, factories, and industrial areas that utilize centralized cooling.
Classification by Technology
Air-conditioning systems can be classified in many ways considering the technology. Below are a few of the common types:
Inverter Air Conditioner
With inverter technology, the compressor motor in air conditioners can adjust its speed while keeping a set temperature rather than cycling on and off like older models.
How It Works
ACs with inverter capabilities change the speed of the compressor to match the temperature to be maintained. It can achieve a stable temperature by using an optimal amount of energy.
Pros & cons of inverter aircon
👍 Energy-efficient: Uses less power due to no dramatic increases and decreases in output.
👍 Cools down rooms more rapidly than non-inverter ACs.
👍 Lower noise levels by the compressor.
👎 Inverter ACs cost significantly more to purchase.
👎 Due to the advanced technology, repairs incur higher-than-average costs.
Appropriate Use:
Ideal for residential and commercial purposes, particularly spaces where uninterrupted use of aircon for long periods is needed.
Non-Inverter Air Conditioner
Non-inverter air conditioners operate by turning the compressor on and off to maintain the set temperature. The compressor starts running when the temperature is above the set point and stops when it is below the set point.
How It Works
The compressor operates at full power until the temperature is reached. Then it turns off and only starts when the room temperature is above the desired value.
Pros & cons of non inverter aircon
👍 Lower upfront cost: More affordable than inverter ACs.
👍 Basic technology: Easy to fix and less expensive to change components.
👎 Inefficient energy consumption: Costs more to run because of frequent on/off cycling.
👎 Cooling is not consistent: The temperature constantly changes as the compressor is switched on and off.
Appropriate Use:
Best for users requiring aircon for shorter period. This is also ideal in places where cost is a primary consideration.
Conclusion
An aircon system should be chosen based on the requirement of the users. Factors such as the dimension of space to be cooled, how long it will be used, energy efficiency, and the budget should be prime considerations. For home, window and split ACs are commonly used while central air or ductless mini-split systems are used in bigger houses. For business, Ducted system, VRF and chiller systems are most appropriate. Apart from these, consider the technology the aircon is using which may impact the performance and energy consumption largely.
