Comparison Mitsubishi Electric Standard MSZ-SF20VA 20 m² vs Mitsubishi Electric Design MSZ-EF22VEB-E1 20 m²

General type of air conditioner.

Nowadays, on the market you can mainly find split systems, multi split systems, portable devices. More rare options are window models and monoblocks. Here is a more detailed description of each of these options:

— Split system. The most popular type of modern air conditioner. Such models consist of two units — indoor and outdoor. The outdoor unit is responsible for heat exchange with the environment — it is through it that excess heat is discharged (or vice versa, external heat is taken into the room, when working for heating). The indoor units are installed in the room, the conditioned air comes from it. Both units are connected by pipes through which the coolant circulates. Air conditioners of this type are convenient, in particular, because the indoor unit can be installed almost anywhere in the room; and in some models, the indoor units have an unusual design (see below), which allows such devices to fit even into non-standard interiors. Also note that split systems can have almost any performance, among them there are models of both household and industrial levels, and the installation of such air conditioners is relatively simple. All this led to their popularity.

— Multi split system. A kind of split system (see above), in which there are several indoor ones for one outdoor...unit. This arrangement allows using one air conditioner to organize climate control in several rooms at once, while the installation of such a system is easier, and the cost is cheaper than using separate split systems.

— Portable. Air conditioners made as a single unit, designed for the possibility of frequent movement from place to place; in some models, wheels are even provided for this. For heat exchange with the external environment, such devices use air ducts that lead out of a window, doorway, ventilation shaft, etc. A mobile air conditioner can be a real salvation where it is not possible to install a stationary device: it does not require complex installation work, just figure out where to bring the duct pipe. In addition, such a unit can be useful in a situation where you need to cool several rooms in turn, and it is difficult or impossible to install a stationary air conditioner for this purpose.

— Window. Air conditioners made as a single unit, installed directly in the window opening — so that one side of the device is indoors, the other is outdoors. It is one of the first types of air conditioners, but, nowadays, it is considered obsolete and rare — mainly due to the complexity of installation and a very limited choice of installation locations. In addition, such an assembly inevitably covers part of the window, which in some cases is also a serious drawback.

— Monoblock. Stationary air conditioners in the form of a single unit with wall installation. Such a unit is located inside the room, on the wall facing the outside, and heat exchange is provided by air ducts passed through the wall, through which the outside air enters the heat exchanger and exits it. Such a design allows you to do without outdoor units, which is very convenient in some situations — for example, if an air conditioner is needed for a historical building or house in a strictly defined design that does not allow unnecessary "decorations" on the facade. On the other hand, monoblocks are expensive, and the possibilities for their installation are very limited.

A set of components included in the delivery of the air conditioner.

This parameter is indicated only for split and multi split systems (see "Type") — other types of air conditioners are made as single units, and there is simply no need to specify the complete set for them. Split system can be supplied both in a complete set, and in separate units (both indoor and outdoor). Among traditional split systems, the first option is the most popular: it is most convenient to buy such a solution as a ready-made kit, and the purchase of a separate unit is required if one of the original units breaks down. But the components of multi split air conditioners, on the contrary, are most often sold separately — this makes it easy to assemble such a system for a specific situation by separately purchasing an outdoor unit and the required number of indoor ones.

The number of indoor units supplied in the kit.

Split and multi split systems are divided into outdoor and indoor units (see "Type"). And the number of indoor units in the kit depends on how many rooms the air conditioner can serve out of the box. However, this parameter is more of a reference than practically significant. So, in a complete set (see "In box") split systems are supplied with one indoor unit. And in the multi split system, a complete set is rare and usually includes two such units; it is assumed that for the organization of a more extensive system, it is more convenient to purchase an outdoor unit and separately purchase the required number of indoor ones for it. Separate indoor units of multi split systems are also sold one by one.

The heat output of the air conditioner when operating in cooling mode, in other words, the amount of heat energy that the unit can transfer from the room to the external environment when operating in this mode.

In general, cooling capacityup to 2 kW for modern air conditioners is considered very modest, 2–3 kW is low, 3–4 kW is medium, 4–6 kW is above average, and in the heaviest and most productive models this figure can be 6–8 kW and even more. Also, the conventional unit BTU can be used to denote capacity; in our catalogue, 1 BTU corresponds approximately to 0.293 W, however, for the convenience of choice, some deviations are allowed: for example, the 7000 BTU category includes units with power from 1.8 to 2.3 kW. Also on sale you can find air conditioners for 9000, 12000, 18000, 24000 BTU and more.

As for the choice for this indicator, the simplest formula is as follows: at least 100 W or 1/3 BTU of thermal power should fall on 1 m2 of the area of the room. Thus, to estimate the maximum area served, the power in watts should be divided by 100, and the power in...BTU should be multiplied by three. However, all these calculations are relevant only for standard residential/office premises with a ceiling height of about 2.5-3 m. For other conditions, you need to use a more complex formula, which is the sum of three parameters: 1) Q1 - the heat gain of the room itself, calculated by multiplying the area of the room by the height of the ceilings and the heat transfer coefficient (it ranges from 30 to 40 W, depending on the conditions); 2) Q2 - heat gain from operating equipment (on average, a third of the total power of all electrical appliances); 3) Q3 - heat gain from each person (from 100 W for sedentary work to 300 W for heavy physical exertion). More detailed recommendations regarding such calculations can be found in special sources.

A special case is represented by separately sold outdoor units of air conditioners (see "In box"). In this case, the capacity in cooling mode is the highest heating capacity of the indoor unit (in the same mode, of course) that can be connected to this outdoor unit. For multi split systems, respectively, the total indicator of all indoor units is taken into account.

The power provided by the air conditioner in heating mode. It is indicated by the amount of thermal energy that the air conditioner can "pump" from the external environment into the room when operating in this mode. The most modest modern units have a heating capacity of 2 – 3 kW or even less, in the most performant it reaches 6 – 8 kW or more.

When evaluating this capacity, the same formulas are relevant that are used in calculating the power of traditional heating. So, for the full heating of an ordinary residential or office space (with ceilings of 2.5-3 m and normal thermal insulation), a thermal power of at least 100 W is required. There are more detailed calculation rules that allow you to calculate the necessary characteristics for other conditions. And if we are talking about a separately sold outdoor unit (see "In box"), then the meaning of this parameter is somewhat different. It indicates the maximum power of the indoor unit that can be connected to this outdoor unit to work in heating mode. For multi split systems, respectively, the total capacity of all indoor units is taken into account.

Recall that most air conditioners are not designed for use as full-fledged heating systems. However, such a unit can be a good addition to the main heating system. At the same time, air conditioners are less expensive than el...ectric heaters: the heater has an effective power equal to energy consumption, and the air conditioner consumes much less energy than it supplies to the heated room.

Also note that the unit BTU (more precisely, BTU/hour) can also be used to indicate the effective capacity (including in heating mode). 1 BTU (BTU/h) initially corresponds to 0.293 W, and the numbers in the characteristics of air conditioners correspond to thousands of BTU/h. For example, a 7 BTU air conditioner will produce an effective capacity of 7000 BTU/h, or about 2 kW. Such marking is convenient because BTU can easily determine the recommended area of a standard room (in m2): just multiply the figure indicated in the characteristics by 3. So, in our example, the power of 7 BTU will correspond to an area of 7*3=21 m2.

The amount of air that an air conditioner can pass through itself in an hour.

This parameter depends on the power and the overall level of the device, but there is no strict dependence here: models with the same effective capacity may differ in air circulation speed. In such cases, it is worth proceeding from the fact that a higher speed contributes to uniform cooling/heating of the air and reduces the time required to create a given microclimate; on the other hand, higher-performing air conditioners use more energy, are larger and/or cost more.

The maximum and minimum level of noise produced by the air conditioner during operation; for split and multi split systems (see "Type"), by default, it is indicated for the indoor unit, and the data for the outdoor unit can be specified in the notes.

The noise level is indicated in decibels; this is a non-linear unit, so it is easiest to evaluate this parameter using comparative tables — they can be found in special sources. Here we note that, according to sanitary standards, the maximum level of constant noise for residential premises is 40 dB during the day and 30 dB at night; for offices, this figure is 50 dB, and in industrial premises higher volume levels may be allowed. So it is worth choosing an air conditioner according to this indicator, taking into account where and how it is planned to use it.

As for specific numbers, among the quietest modern air conditioners, there are models with a minimum performance of 23 – 24 dB, 22 – 21 dB, and sometimes even 20 dB or less. However, units at 31 – 31 dB and 33 – 34 dB are not uncommon; such loudness, usually, does not create discomfort in the daytime, but at night it is no longer desirable. However, in some cases, a louder air conditioner may be the best choice: noise reduction affects the cost, sometimes quite noticeably, and if the device...is not planned to be turned on at night, you can not overpay for additional noise reduction.

The lowest outdoor temperature at which the air conditioner can operate normally in heating mode.

Modern air conditioners with heating mode are quite cold-resistant appliances. Thus, models where this temperature limit exceeds 0 °C are rare. A lot of units, even quite inexpensive ones, have a minimum temperature allowed for heating in the range of -5 ... -10 °C or -11 ... -15 °C. Models with indicators of -16 ... -20 °C and -21 ... -25 °C, although much less, are still quite a few, and air conditioners capable of heating at -25 °C and below are very close in terms of capabilities to heat pumps.

Types of additional filters that the air conditioner is equipped with (in addition to the simplest mechanical filters that are in all models).

We emphasize that we are talking about the filters supplied in the kit; some models allow you to separately purchase additional elements for air purification, but this possibility is not taken into account in this case. As for specific options, the most popular in modern air conditioners are various antibacterial filters(including catechin elements and UV lamps), fine cleaning devices (including HEPA filters), antifungal, anti- allergic, deodorizing and formaldehyde filters, as well as elements, which combine several functions at once — plasma (electrostatic) and catalytic. Here is a detailed description of each of them:

— Plasma (electrostatic). These filters are based on the saturation of the air with negatively charged ions. Thus, a similar element also works as an ionizer (see "Functions"), even if there is no full-fledged ionizer in the design. As for air purification, plasma filters can quite effectively destroy harmful microorganisms, destroy some harmfu...l substances, and also trap particles of dust, smoke, soot, etc. These particles acquire a charge under the influence of ionized air and are attracted to the filter plates.

— Fine cleaning. This term usually refers to advanced mechanical filters that provide air filtration at a microscopic level. The effectiveness of such devices may be different; it should be specified separately in each case. Also note that the HEPAs described below are also, in fact, fine filters; however, they use a specific principle of operation and are initially characterized by high efficiency. Therefore, the presence of HEPA filters is indicated separately.

— HEPA filter. A special kind of mechanical fine filter. Due to the special design of the microchannels through which air passes in such a filter, such devices can trap particles much smaller than the diameter of the microchannels. For comparison: the effectiveness of a HEPA filter is estimated by its ability to retain contaminants with a size of 0.1 – 0.3 microns (with such particles, such a filter is the least effective), while the size of most bacteria starts at 0.5 microns. By efficiency, such filters are divided into classes; nowadays, HEPA classes from 10 (detains at least 85% of the mentioned particles) to 14 (filtration efficiency reaches 99.995%) are relevant.

— Catechin. It is a variety of antibacterial filters described below, created based on catechins, natural organic substances with a powerful antioxidant effect. Such filters are highly effective in combating bacteria and viruses. However, they are not cheap; in light of these features, they are shown in a separate category.

— Catalytic. Most often, this term means photocatalytic, or zeolite filters — devices that work due to a special substance (photocatalyst) and UV radiation. Under the influence of such radiation, the catalyst decomposes the organic matter that falls on it into simpler substances — usually water and carbon dioxide. This technology allows you not only to remove harmful impurities from the air (and at the level of individual molecules) but also provides a good bactericidal and antiviral effect. At the same time, such a filter practically does not require maintenance: the photocatalyst is not consumed during operation, and the reaction products freely escape to the outside. On the other hand, the price of such elements is quite high.

— Antibacterial. Various filters are designed to kill bacteria and other harmful organisms — viruses, fungi, etc. The specific principle of operation, the level of efficiency and maintenance rules for such filters may be different, these details should be specified in the documentation for the air conditioner. However, if air disinfection is of fundamental importance to you, such a filter will come in handy. We note only two points in this regard. Firstly, catechin elements are usually not included in this category, although they have the same purpose (see above); secondly, not every antibacterial filter can effectively fight viruses — this point needs to be specified separately.
It is also worth considering that no matter how effective the air conditioner filters are, thorough air disinfection is not its main task; specialized devices should be used for these purposes.

— Antifungal. A specialized filter for removing harmful fungi from the air, such as mould. The antibacterial devices described above also have this function to one degree or another; however, this type of filter is much more efficient in this regard. On the other hand, the need to fight intensively with fungi does not arise so often, and for other cases, the same antibacterial filters are usually quite enough. So antifungal elements in modern air conditioners are used quite rarely.

— Anti-allergic. Filters designed primarily to remove pollutants from the air that cause allergies: plant pollen (including from indoor plants), dust mites, particles of pet hair, etc. The specific principle of operation of such filters may be different, but it is worth clarifying separately. So, in relatively inexpensive air conditioners, the simplest mechanical cleaning is usually used, and the term "anti-allergenic" is more of a marketing ploy than a real description of the filter's specialization. More advanced models often include more advanced technologies, such as an enzyme filter that decomposes allergens into simple, harmless substances like water and carbon dioxide.

— UV lamp. A lamp that treats the air passing through the air conditioner with UV radiation. This treatment provides a bactericidal effect: ultraviolet light neutralizes most bacteria, viruses and fungi. However, the efficiency of such lamps is not particularly high. Nevertheless, they are a great addition to an antibacterial filter. And even without such a filter, the quality of air purification from an air conditioner with a UV lamp will be higher than that of a similar model without such a lamp.
Separately, we emphasize that this function should not be confused with the catalytic (photocatalytic) filter described above — UV lamps have a much simpler design and principle of operation.

— Deodorizing (charcoal). A specialized filter is designed, among other things, to combat unpleasant odours. It acts at the molecular level, passing ordinary air and absorbing molecules of substances that create unpleasant odours; of course, it is also capable of retaining larger particles, such as smoke. Activated carbon is most often used as a filter element — hence one of the variants of the name; there are filters based on other substances. However, they also have similar properties. Note that in any deodorizing filter, the working element must be changed periodically. When the resource is exhausted, it becomes useless and can even release harmful substances itself.

— Formaldehyde. Specialized filter for removing formaldehyde and some other harmful organic compounds (eg. ammonia, benzene and/or hydrogen sulfide) from the air. The source of such substances can be both external pollution (for example, emissions from industrial enterprises), and some items in the room itself: new furniture or curtains, some types of floor and wall coverings (immediately after application), spoiled food, cigarette smoke, etc. n. The principle of operation of filters of this type may be different. The most commonly used so-called cryocatalytic element, in which the catalyst decomposes organic matter into simpler harmless components and then restores its properties due to cold when the air conditioner is cooling. In addition, many catalytic (photocatalytic) filters have similar capabilities (see above), so one such element can be claimed in the characteristics as two types of filters at once — both catalytic and formaldehyde.

In addition to the varieties described above, other types of filters can be found in modern air conditioners, in particular:

— Air cleaner. The general name used for different types of filters. This term often denotes the simplest elements of coarse cleaning (for advertising purposes — so that the list of filters in the characteristics is larger). However, there is another option — devices created based on specific proprietary technologies and not fitting into any of the varieties described above; such devices can combine several functions (for example, fine filtration and antibacterial effect).

— Dust filter. Most often, we are talking about the simplest mechanical filter that traps dust and other relatively large particles. Almost all modern air conditioners are equipped with such devices. However, in some models, the presence of dust filters is specified separately — mainly for advertising purposes.

— With vitamin C. A filter that saturates the air with vitamin C. It is believed that such an addition has a positive effect on immunity and skin condition; there is no unambiguous evidence for this. However, in conditions of vitamin deficiency, such an adaptation will definitely not be superfluous.

— Preliminary. Mechanical coarse filter installed in front of the main set of filters. It detains relatively large contaminants, preventing them from reaching other filter elements. At the same time, the design of the preliminary filter, usually, is as simple as possible, and its maintenance is limited to periodic shaking or washing.

— Ionic (for example, Smart Ion, etc.). Usually — the same electrostatic filter (see above), however, is presented under one brand name or another.