Glossary of Air Conditioner Terms

Air flow

Amount of air quantity being delivered from the AC. The Indoor air quantity refers to the cold air flow in the room and the Outdoor air quantity refers to the ventilation air flow over outdoor unit.

Compressor

The heart of the AC. Could be of Rotary, Reciprocating or Scroll type. The compressor is the major source of power usage in the AC.

Condenser

Refers to the heat exchange coil used on the outdoor side. This throws hot air into the atmosphere. See also Heat exchanger

Cooling Capacity

Amount of cooling expressed in watts or kilo watts or Btu/hour. More the number, higher the cooling capacity.

Copper tubing

Used in the heat exchangers. The inner surface could be plain or inner-grooved. In Split AC, Copper tubing is used for connecting the Indoor unit and Outdoor unit for circulating refrigerant.

Electrical cable

Wiring in the AC. In Split AC, the electrical cable is run between the Indoor and Outdoor units.

Evaporator

Heat exchange coil used on the Indoor side. This throws cold air into the room. See also Heat exchanger

Fan motor

Motor used to drive the fans and blowers in the AC. Window AC uses one fan motor. Split AC Indoor and Outdoor units have individual fan motors.

Fins

Used in the heat exchangers. It could be of plain, sine wave, slit or double slit type.

Grill

Plastic enclosure fitted on the room side with a nice aesthetics and separate sections for throwing cold air into the room and picking the return air from the room.

Heat pump

A reversible AC which provides cooling in summer and heating in winter. Saves higher amount of energy for heating, compared to conventional strip heaters.

Heat exchanger

A bundle of aluminum finned Copper tubing for transferring heat from refrigerant to air and vice-versa. Used as evaporator and condenser in AC

Indoor unit

The unit or box fitted inside the room in Split AC

Oscillating louvers

Louvers on the room side, which swings and throws cold air into different directions in the room

Outdoor unit

The unit or box fitted outside the room in Split AC

Power consumption

Amount of electrical power consumed by AC. Expressed in kilo watts

Refrigerant

Odourless, safe chemical fluid used in the AC. This is circulated in the AC inside the copper tubing to produce cooling in the room.

Remote controller

Wireless controller device to activate the AC

Split AC

A type of AC. Has two boxes – Indoor unit kept inside the room and Outdoor unit kept outside the . room, connected by copper tubings and electrical cable.

Star Label

The label affixed on AC by the manufacturer. Can vary from 1 star to 5 star. Higher the stars higher is the efficiency and higher the monthly energy bill savings for you

Window AC