Air conditioners based on inverter technologies and other intelligent engineering systems

We often do not even think about the fact that we use a variety of air conditioning equipment every day, and the quality of this equipment affects not only our comfort, but also our well-being. Modern air conditioning systems are very diverse in terms of technical characteristics and methods of execution. Common to them is only the purpose: to create and maintain the temperature and humidity characteristics of the air necessary for the consumer. At the same time, any comprehensive solution in the field of air conditioning should take into account such criteria as the volume of initial investments, the possibility of energy supply, operating costs and, of course, provide comfortable conditions for the consumer.

Innovative technologies in climate technology

At the moment, a variety of lines of climatic equipment with a high efficiency factor, which is achieved, among other things, through the use of inverter technologies, have been developed and continue to be developed. Today's innovative technologies solve the following problems:

• Automatic maintenance of the established humidity and temperature level with high accuracy without drops and deviations.
• Inverter technologies provide high energy efficiency, since when generating 3-4 kW of thermal energy, only 1 kW of electric energy is consumed and thus utility bills are significantly reduced.
• Innovative models of air conditioners are characterized by high performance, that is, cooling/heating to specified temperatures occurs in a very short period of time.
• The latest generation of filtration systems provides maximum air purification even from microscopic dust, odors, bacteria and allergens. However, in some models, the filter can last several years without replacement.
• Air conditioners are equipped with Wi-Fi modules, motion sensors and voice command recognition, which allows you to ensure optimal operating mode and ease of control, even if the consumer is far from the room.
• Air conditioners with "smart functions" allow you to integrate them into the "smart home" system.

An inverter air conditioner is a conventional AC cooler to which a converter and compressor are added.

The air conditioner compressor is the heart of the installation, so that the speed of its rotation and energy consumption directly affect the efficiency of indoor air conditioning. An inverter in such a system is used to adjust the compressor mode and control its operation.

An inverter is an electronic device that converts AC to DC and then again to AC, but already at an adjustable frequency. By changing the speed, the compressor speed is changed. As a result, due to the increased rotation speed of the compressor in active mode, cooling or heating of the room is accelerated, which significantly increases the energy efficiency of the installation (from 20% to 30% compared to "conventional" air conditioners). In addition, thanks to the inverter, it became possible to automatically adjust the operation of the air conditioner compressor.

Main differences between inverter air conditioner and "classic"

The most important difference between these two types of installations lies in the principle of their operation. "Ordinary" models have two modes of operation: on and off, that is, air is supplied until a certain temperature is reached. After that, automatic shutdown occurs, the next time the air conditioner starts its operation, only when the temperature reaches the specified level. In inverter air conditioners, on the contrary, the set temperature is maintained constantly, and this is achieved by constant operation of the compressor. When reaching the specified temperature parameters, the air conditioner reduces power to a minimum due to a decrease in frequency and, accordingly, rotation speed, but does not turn off. With this principle of operation, the unit spends a total of much less energy than a conventional air conditioner, since it simply maintains the temperature.

Another important difference between an inverter air conditioner and a conventional one is the output power range. Since the inverter air conditioner will smoothly change the power of the compressor, it also operates in a wider range of capacities.

Intelligent systems that make life easier and more comfortable

Modern ventilation and air conditioning companies with high-level engineering management and a staff of highly qualified specialists are trying not only to use all the novelties and energy-saving technologies on the market in the design and selection of equipment, but also to develop and implement their own engineering and organizational solutions, which other market participants later begin to apply. Let's consider how this happens on the example of a project implemented under the guidance of a well-known specialist in the field of ventilation and air conditioning Ekaterina Sergeevna Smirnova.

In the process of developing the project, Ekaterina Smirnova, who served as the project's engineering manager, not only decided to use inverter-type air conditioners and led the selection of units with the necessary characteristics, but also suggested using the zoning method. This method allows you to set your own cooling mode for each room of a house, apartment or other object and thus choose the best in terms of comfort and optimal in terms of energy consumption for the whole object as a whole. Zoning is a new direction that is rapidly gaining popularity, and Catherine was one of the pioneers who proposed mechanisms for its practical implementation.

The uniqueness of this direction lies in the fact that, using just one air conditioner, you can not only set, but also adjust the individual temperature in each individual room. With this approach, the only power unit provides the necessary different temperatures in a dozen different rooms. The zoning system provides temperature control in each zone individually, using smart dampers to control the performance of channel air conditioners. However, the calculation and practical implementation of such a system can only be carried out by experienced specialists, since they require both free knowledge of the method of aerodynamic calculations and a clear understanding of the mechanisms of interaction of all automation systems.

Having implemented in this project her idea of ​ ​ using inverter air conditioners in combination with zoning, Catherine achieved a 30% reduction in the energy consumption of the air conditioning system (from 25,000 BTU to 17,500 BTU) and, in addition, a reduction in noise level from internal installations to 24 dB.

In addition, the project was developed using BIM technology (3D modeling), which allows you to plan the placement of all equipment and perform an accurate calculation of air ducts before starting installation work. This was one of the first cases of using this technology in the domestic practice of designing such engineering systems, on the example of which Ekaterina Smirnova demonstrated to the entire professional community its high efficiency and economic feasibility. As a result of the use of this technology, errors were significantly reduced both during the design stage and during the installation process. So many other companies are now adopting this best practice and implementing it in their work.

"Modern technologies have stepped far ahead and now allow you to adjust not only the temperature for each room, but also set the schedule of the air conditioning system. It is important already at the initial stage of cooperation to explain in detail and clearly to customers what advantages they will receive from zoning and the use of inverter air conditioners. The more people will know about the new possibilities of creating an ideal microclimate in their home, the sooner they will evaluate these solutions and apply them in practice, "says Ekaterina Smirnova.

Energy conservation is not a beautiful slogan, but an urgent demand for time. It, freeing up energy savings, helps national economies and the global economy as a whole grow, redistributing these resources for other purposes.

In addition, energy savings and increased energy efficiency of engineering systems make it possible to significantly reduce the negative impact of technogenic factors on the environment, including, but not limited to, greenhouse gas emissions.

That is why manufacturers are constantly working on the creation of climate equipment with a higher class of efficiency, designers are working on energy-efficient solutions directly for each object, and engineering managers such as Ekaterina Smirnova are leading these processes. Being both qualified engineers and experienced managers, they tie together the developments of all these specialists and embody them in real life. The result of their work is the comfort of consumers and the reduction of harmful effects on the environment.

Author: Sergey Trofimov