Australia is becoming more and more popular with ducted air conditioning. Affordable, efficient, and suited to cooling large homes with multiple rooms, this air conditioner is obvious for anyone looking for a new air conditioner.
So, what is ducted air conditioning? Here we’ll explore the science of ducted air conditioning: how it works, the main equipment, and common questions.
What Is Ducted Air Conditioning?
Ducted air conditioning, or whole-house ventilation system, is a type of central heating and cooling system that can heat and cool all the Ducted system rooms in your home at once. The system works by drawing air from outside through ducts and distributing it into each room via a network of ducts. It uses an air conditioner or heat pump to remove moisture from the air, while an air handler distributes the air throughout the house.
What Is the Process of Ducted Air Conditioning?
Cooling systems using refrigerants are referred to as ducted air conditioning. A refrigerant is a substance that can easily change from gas to liquid, and as it undergoes this process, its temperature changes. Cooling and heating the air that the ducted system pulls from the house is based on the temperature change.
Evaporators, compressors, and condensers are the major components of refrigerated cooling systems. As a ducted system is in cooling mode, a simplified description of the refrigeration process is:
- Evaporator
Blowers are used to removing warm air from your home, which is transferred to evaporator coils in the indoor unit through ducts. The coils contain a refrigerant that converts the warm air into a high-pressure gas by absorbing the heat in the warm air. When the warm air from your house passes over the evaporator coils, it becomes cool and is returned to the house through the vents/diffusers in the ceiling.
The main function of the blower is to move air from one place to another. A blower can be powered by an electric motor or a gas engine. The electric motor is usually the most efficient way of operating your system. The gas engine is generally used for backup power or systems that are not easily accessible. The gas engine also allows you to use propane as your fuel source for the blower motor. There are different types of blowers available, such as ductless fans, ductless fans, and ductless blowers. Ducted fans Ductless fans are used in areas where there are no ducts, such as attics, crawl spaces, and even outdoor locations like patios. Ductless fans are usually used for smaller applications where the fan speed is not important.
- Compressor
A high-pressure refrigerant gas passes through the outdoor compressor. Gas is compressed into a liquid by the compressor, which causes it to condense.
- Condenser
Additionally, the liquid is able to flow through to the condenser coils of the outdoor unit. Heat is dissipated from the liquid refrigerant inside by the blower blowing on the coils. A depressurizing expansion valve then cools the liquid even further before passing it to the evaporator to complete the cycle.
How Do Zones in Ducted Air Conditioning Work?
It is a type of central air conditioning in which air is channeled throughout the system by means of ducts. Through the use of ducts, the system can reach different areas of the house, known as zones. You might have four zones in a larger property – one for the living area, one for the kitchen, one for the master bedroom, and one for a smaller bedroom.
Can You Explain Ducted Reverse Cycle Air Conditioning?
Nowadays, reverse cycle air conditioners are quite common. They are able to reverse the refrigeration cycle, so they are able to provide both cooling and heating. During the reversal of the refrigeration cycle, the condenser becomes an evaporator, which pulls cool air into the system and converts it to heat.
