An airconditioner is an electrically operated device used to keep houses, offices, and laboratories cool during summer and warm during winter. It not only controls temperature but also regulates humidity.
Today, airconditioners of all types and sizes are available. The big airconditioner plants are capable of cooling or heating an entire building.
In general, an airconditioner keeps the temperature between 20°C and 25.5°C and relative humidity around 35-70%. An airconditioner plant consists of a compressor and a cooling liquid like the Freon gas. The cooling liquid evaporates in the cooling coil. This vapour is then carried to the electrically-operated compressor. It then goes to the condenser where it is cooled by air or water as it passes through the radiator. Here the vapour changes to a liquid giving off heat in the process. The compressor thus serves to transfer heat from one place to another. A fan sends fresh air into the room which keeps the temperature of the room to the desired level. The airconditioner has certain substances which remove the moisture from the room. It also has filters to remove the dust particles from the air. This is how an airconditioner controls the temperature and humidity and keeps the air clean. Some airconditioners have attachments so when turned on we get hot air in the winters.
Many new buildings, factories and homes are now being designed to include air-conditioning. Ships, aeroplanes, cars, offices, restaurants, theatres, shops and space vehicles make use of this steady flow of comfortable, purified air.