Type
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.In box
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.
Number of indoor units
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.
Power consumption (cooling/heating)
Power consumption of the air conditioner in cooling and heating mode; for models without a heating mode, only one number is given. This parameter should not be confused with the effective capacity of the air conditioner. Effective capacity is the amount of heat that the unit can "pump" into the environment or the room. This item also indicates the amount of electricity consumed by the device from the network.
In all air conditioners, the power consumption is several times lower than the effective capacity. It is due to the peculiarities of the operation of such units. At the same time, devices with the same efficiency may differ in power consumption. In such cases, the more economical models usually cost more, but with continued use, the difference can quickly pay off with less electricity consumption.
Also, two points related to electrical engineering depend on this nuance. Firstly, power consumption affects power requirements: models up to 3 – 3.5 kW can be connected to a regular outlet, while higher power consumption requires a three-phase connection (see below). Secondly, the power consumption is needed to calculate the load on the mains and the necessary parameters of additional equipment: stabilizers, emergency generators, uninterruptible power supplies, etc.
Dehumidification
The rate at which moisture is removed from the air when the air conditioner is operating for dehumidification.
The amount of excess moisture that accumulates in the air depends on several parameters. There are special formulas and even calculator programmes that allow you to calculate this amount for a particular situation. These calculation methods can be found in special sources. It should also be said here that air conditioners are not full-fledged
dehumidifiers, so their performance in this mode is generally low.
Seasonal cooling SEER
The seasonal SEER cooling factor provided by the air conditioner.
The meaning of this parameter is similar to the cooling coefficient — EER (see above): we are talking about the ratio of useful power to spend, and the higher the coefficient, the more efficient the device is. The difference between these parameters lies in the measurement method: EER is measured for strictly standard conditions (outside temperature +35 °C, workload 100%), while SEER is closer to reality — it takes into account seasonal temperature fluctuations (for Europe) and some other specific points, such as the increased efficiency of inverter compressors. Therefore, since 2013, it is customary to use SEER as the main parameter in the EU; this parameter was also adopted for air conditioners supplied to other countries with a similar climate.
Seasonal heating SCOP
Seasonal heating coefficient SCOP provided by the air conditioner.
Like the COP (see above), this parameter describes the overall efficiency of the air conditioner in heating operation and is calculated by the formula: thermal (useful) power divided by electricity consumption. The higher the coefficient, the more efficient the device, respectively. And the difference between COP and SCOP is that COP is measured under strictly standard conditions (outside temperature +7 °C, full workload), and SCOP takes into account seasonal temperature fluctuations (for Europe), changes in air conditioner operating modes, the presence of an inverter and some other options. Thanks to this, SCOP is closer to real indicators, and since 2013 this coefficient has been taken as the main one in the territory of the European Union. However, this parameter is also used for air conditioners supplied to other countries with a similar climate.
Energy efficiency SEER (cooling)
The seasonal energy efficiency class that the air conditioner complies with in cooling operation. Initially, this parameter was designated in letters from
A(the most economical indicator) to G (the most expensive); however, more efficient classes than A appeared later —
A+,
A++ and
A+++(the more pluses, the higher the energy efficiency).
This parameter is directly related to the value of the SEER coefficient. For more information on this factor and how it differs from the EER, see "Seasonal Cooling SEER Ratio". Here we note that each class has its range of SEER values; detailed correspondence tables can be found in special sources.
Other things being equal, more energy-efficient air conditioners are more expensive, but the difference can be recouped as it uses less electicity.
Energy efficiency SCOP (heating)
The seasonal energy efficiency class that the air conditioner complies with when operating for heating. Initially, this parameter was designated in letters from
A(the most economical indicator) to G (the most expensive); however, more efficient classes than A appeared later —
A+,
A++ and
A+++(the more pluses, the higher the energy efficiency).
This indicator is directly related to the value of the SCOP coefficient. For more information about this coefficient and how it differs from the COP, see "Seasonal heating SCOP". Here we note that each class has its range of SCOP values; detailed tables can be found in special sources.
Other things being equal, more energy-efficient air conditioners are more expensive, but the difference can be recouped as it uses less electricity.