Split air conditioner is the modified version of window air conditioner. The idea of split units came from the fact that, ‘in window air conditioner, it is sometimes not possible to minimize the noise problem, as it is installed on the wall of conditioned room’. In order to overcome the difficulty of noise, split air conditioner is developed, in which, compressor and condenser are located at a remote location and only evaporator coil and a fan are located near the application. This division or splitting of air conditioning unit gave the equipment its name as “Split air conditioner”. Split air conditioner is basically an air conditioning system, which is built into two separate or distinct units, named as ‘indoor unit’ and ‘outdoor unit’.
Indoor unit
It is located in the space to be conditioned. It is well insulated on inside housing. It consists of evaporator (cooling coil), a fan coupled With motor, electronic controls and provisions for condensate drain.
Outdoor unit
Outdoor section consists of compressor, capillary tube, condenser and condenser cooling fan with motor. Outdoor unit can be erected away from the room to be conditioned. The outdoor unit is connected to indoor unit by extended pipelines covered with insulating material provided. Therefore, split air conditioner is also known as “Remote mounted air conditioner”. With the help of insulated piping, the low pressure and low temperature liquid refrigerant comes in the evaporator. Fan fitted in indoor unit sucks the air over the evaporator coil and delivers it back to room. Thus, the operation of split air onditioner is similar to the window air conditioner using the basic cycle of operation as vapour compression refrigeration. The refrigerant is compressed, condensed, expanded at remote site and gets evaporated only in the room evaporator.
Fig. 1: Split air conditioner
Advantages of Split Air Conditioning System
- Noiseless operation.
- No necessity of wall opening.
- Better circulation of air.
- Less vibrations.
- Occupies less space in the room.
- More accessible for maintenance, because condenser, compressor and fan can be located at convenient place, away from space or room to be cooled.
- Good aesthetic quality.
Disadvantages of Split Air Conditioning System
- Distance between indoor and outdoor section has to be small to avoid pressure drop, otherwise it will affect the capacity of plant.
- High cost of unit.
- Chances of leakage are more due to longer refrigerant tubing/ ines.
- Poor COP of unit.
- Control over operation is difficult.
Applications of Split Air Conditioner
- Hotels and Restaurants,
- Offices,
- Auditoriums and many more,
- Hospitals,
- Schools,
- Departmental stores,
- Semina halls.
