Overview of the household window air conditioners market: functions, design features, specifications, instrument installation technology.
Photo V.Nepledov
1- compressor;
2- condenser;
3- evaporator;
4- accelerating heat exchange fans
Photo P. Lebedeva
Processed air enters the room through side or top blinds
Window air conditioner KCR-50 / L1 from Ballu develops maximum power in cooling and heating mode 5kW, while consuming 2,2kW electricity from the power supply
Scientists have found that the air temperature is optimal for a person - about 22-24 degrees. Distant city apartment or in the country house in winter it supports the heating system, and in the summer and in the transition period, the air conditioning system. Moreover, the most democratic and infertility can be considered a household window air conditioner. Use it in cases where it is necessary to get rid of the heat of only one room of a country house or an urban apartment.
What are they forces?
The first window air conditioner was created in the thirties of the last century in America. Such devices were immediately widely widespread due to the simplicity of the design, a low price and sufficiently high power, somewhat rebuildingly prevailing the central air conditioning system and making the individual cooling of individual premises possible. From America (where this technique is very popular today) Fashion on window air conditioners moved to Europe and the country of the Third World. It is with the window model that our fellow citizens are still often associated with household air conditioning in general, since only this type of device has long produced the main manufacturer of the domestic household climate technique - Baku Plant (modelBC).Structurally window conditioner is a monoblock, which is mounted in the window opening (of course, if the device is smaller than it) or in the wall of the room. Its case is a large box collected from metal and plastic panels of white, gray, light brown or other pastel color. On the facade of "Oringov" there are handles, levers and control buttons. Inside the case is all necessary for cooling the air equipment - like what is in each domestic refrigerator.
The main purpose of the window air conditioner is cooling the air within the same room area up to 60m2. It may operate in this mode "OBSCH" can at an outdoor temperature from 18 to 43c (however, each manufacturer has their recommendations on this account). The cooling work is also reduced air humidity in the room. This is especially useful in hot afternoon, after the rain, when the relative humidity approaches the house to 100% and the drying of the air to 30-60% facilitates the thermoregulation of the body.
In addition to cooling, some models are able to heat the air indoors. Do this allow models with reversing a cooling machine cycle (in the household refrigerator, also occurs heating mode for thawing). True, heating is allowed only as long as the air temperature on the street does not fall below-3c. With a stronger frost, the window conditioner is not recommended, it may fail. Especially for lovers year-rounding the premises with air conditioners are provided by models equipped with an electric heater (TEN) (for example, AX09EW-AV45ES from White-Westinghouse). Such instruments are able to heat the air in the room at any frost, the refrigerator is turned off at this time.
Before use in the window air conditioners of nanocular and plasma air conditioners, the case has not yet come. But "Oringov" are equipped with mesh air filters, sometimes with antibacterial impregnation (like some models of South Korean firms LG and Samsung), retaining dust. This allows you to protect the inhabitants of the house, as well as the insides of the device itself from the poplar fluff, a pile, home dust and other similar contaminants. If you do not turn on the air conditioner for cooling or heating, and select only ventilation mode, Oringov will perform the duties of the vacuum cleaner, cleaning the air indoors from dust. Mesh filters are installed behind the front plastic panel, and we must not forget regularly (every two weeks) wash them under the jet of warm water from under the tap.
Many modern window conditioners are able to provide exhaust ventilation of the room (30-100m3 / h), which they are cooled or heated - it is enough to pull the lever on the front panel and open the flap. This mode can be turned on and offline when the refrigerator is turned off.
Pros and cons
The sellers of climate machinery are often called window conditioners in the technique of the last century, which changed modern multifunctional split systems for the change. However, in our opinion, the window conditioner will definitely retain its right to exist. If only because there is a number of advantages over a split-system.
We will reverse attention to the fact that "Oringov" with other things being equal (trademark, cooling capacity, the functions performed) are sometimes twice as cheaper of split systems. In addition, for mounting window devices there is no need to attract highly qualified specialists, and therefore, you do not need large financial costs for installing equipment. Remove the "OBR" from the opening as easy as to install, after which it can be transported to another place (the opening is easily close to the decorative partition). For example, in the summer, the instrument will provide you with a comfortable stay in the country house, and in the winter it will be easy to transport it to the city apartment. Extremely good "Rockan" and for the climate of the premises of the "removable" housing.
The design of window air conditioners when comparing with split systems should be recognized more compact and reliable. Monoblock devices accommodate the entire "filling" of the outdoor and internal blocks of split systems (evaporator, condenser, compressor, IT.D.), without external connective pipelines. Installation of such air conditioners is carried out in the factory conditions, so compounds that could cause the loss of the refrigerant are practically absent. If we talk about practice, then the window models often do not require refrigerane for a long service life (as refrigerators). All-Russia centers they fall out due to improper operation, mechanical damage or one hundred percent wear due to long-term and merciless exploitation.
The crisp of the arguments traditionally used by the opponents of Olnikov, refers to the statement that they blocked the light from the window. However, as already noted above, it is absolutely not necessary to bind the air conditioner to the window to the window, it is possible to install it in a thin wall (about 15 cm). By the way, the windows must be strong enough to withstand the mass of the device. If you plan to install air conditioning in a plastic window with a double-glazed window, then at the stage of the window production it is necessary to provide the appropriate dimensions for the installation of the instrument.
Speed argument of opponents of window air conditioners - the noise level generated by these devices during operation (it is from 39DB from the smallest up to 59 or more in the giants with a power of 6 kW and higher). Fall asleep under their rinking is not easy. Therefore, "Oringov" are contraindicated for the bedroom. However, if you cool the air before bedtime, and during the use of the bedroom for a direct purpose simply cut down the equipment from the network, this deficiency can be minimized. Of course, over time, the room temperature will increase, which is uncomfortable. If you put yourself a goal to maintain a certain temperature in the bedroom throughout the night, it will be possible to wake up from time to time, turn on the air conditioner "to the entire coil", and go to the kitchen for the Bavarian Cutlet.
It should not be sitting very close to the window conditioner working on cooling, it may end up with a cold. However, the last observation is true in relation to both split systems, and to any other distributing cooled device.
Olibor "Oringov"
When choosing one or another household appliance, we, first of all, pay attention to its value, as well as on fundamentally important design features. When it comes to buying a window air conditioner, it makes sense to think about the factors that are responsible for minimizing its noise level, the comfort of air distribution in the room and ease of control.Noise . The main source of noise in the window air conditioner is its heart compressor. Especially high noise are models with piston compressors. More "advanced" modern devices are equipped with rotary compressors with a system of inverter control and as a result, it is hidden (by 3-5DB). A noticeable reduction in noise levels contributes to the installation of a compressor on rubber vibration plants, due to which the noise from the unit is not transmitted to the body, as well as the coating of the rubber compressor. Such measures are taken, for example, in the window air conditioners Panasonic, model range of CW.
The second most important source of the noise fan (impeller + electric motor). To reduce the noise of this node, companies-manufacturers of window air conditioners use specially integrated plastic impellers (Carrier, General) and high-quality low-suck electric motors (Toshiba, RAC model range).
Another body creates a fan-sprinkler, which is equipped with some models of Oringov. It captures condensate from the drain pallet (which is formed during the air cooling process) and "splashing" it onto a capacitor, where it evaporates (steam outwards), increasing the efficiency of heat discharge from the room in the environment. Unbend models The sound of shocks of the sprinkler blades about water often turns out to be quite loud. But if you connect the drainage tube ("Nipple" to the air conditioner is usually located on the back of the window of the window device) and equip the water removal into the sewer or straight to the street, the noise from splashing will stop.
In love case, the noise level of the working device is better to appreciate before buying, including its full capacity in the shopping room. This will consolidate the "soundness" of the air conditioner with your individual features of the perception of noise. Of course, you need to make a discount on what the store is not a living room, the noise of the device here will be perceived as at home. It is better to spend the test in the evening when buyers are a bit and intensity of automotive movement and other extraneous sounds, which can prevent the process of perception of the real noise of the test air conditioner, low.
Superior comfort . Fence of room air Window air conditioner carries through the inlet grille, which occupies most of it to the surface facing surface. Behind the bars is a air filter. After processing (cleaning, cooling or heating), the stream returns to the dwelling through a small rectangular hole located on the right, to the left or above the air intake grille, that is, blowing "Okannik" into the room. There are extracted "cold" models, for example KC-18 / C2 from Gree, Ra-08CFI, RA-10CFI from Hitachi, cooled air is supplied back not from the side of the housing, but from the slot located above the air intake grille.
Carrying holes are installed their mobile lattices, allowing to change the flow direction. Extreme inexpensive window air conditioners are provided only manual adjustment of the direction of air to the room. Moreover, the user can change the direction of feeding the jet of cold (heated) air into the room using movable air distribution grids (down It is recommended to guide the heated flow, horizontally or up-cooled). A more comfortable distribution of air through the room provides models with automatic blinds (they can navigate from side to side not only manually, but automatically, with the help of a motor built into the air conditioner). With their activation, the device, like a caring servant, will rhythmically redirect a stream of prepared air from side to the side, providing a drink by cooling or warm all the corners of the room. As a rule, the automatic blinds of "Oringov" change the direction of the air flow in the horizontal plane, but there are models with a four-sided automatic jet deviation (automatically operate both horizontal and vertical blinds). The battery of such models includes, for example, CW-A120VE from Panasonic.
Controllability . Protecting cases in window air conditioners provides electromechanical control (for example, Sanyo-79G). In this case, the network switch, the temperature adjustment knob (thermostat), the fan speed switch is made on the front panel of the instrument. Olnikov with electronic control (for example, AW09F1KE from Samsung) buttons are used to exhibit the desired temperature, in addition, the air temperature can be displayed on the built-in LCD control panel. By degree of convenience, electronic and electromechanical management differ from each other is insignificant, but this is only if the air conditioner is not particularly far from the floor level. If the device is mounted in the window frame, high above the head, then it is logical to provide electronic control, the functions of which are duplicated by the remote control. Sometimes "Oringov" are equipped with a convenient programmable timer for 12 hours, for example, such as in the RA-08CFR1 model from Hitachi.
Characteristics of some models of window air conditioners presented in the Russian climate technology market *
| Firm | Country | Model rows | Cooling power, kW | Heating power, kW | Gabarites, mm. | Price range, $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung | Korea | Aw | 1.46-2.05 | - | 452313325- 520345485. | 210-300 |
| Az. | 2.46-4,98 | 2.46-4,84 | 520345485- 660420695. | 400-700 | ||
| LG | Korea | W-LC | 1,45-2, 03. | - | 472312370- 469353525. | 220-300 |
| W-LH, W-LHR | 2.46-6.4 | 2.46-6.4 | 600380555- 600428770. | 350-770 | ||
| Panasonic | Japan | CW-C. | 1,47-6,95 | - | 525340482- 660428770. | 215-786 |
| CW-A. | 2.67-4,85 | 2.55-4.5 | 560375606- 660428770. | 440-770 | ||
| Fuji. | Japan | Rk, Rm. | 2-3,65. | - | 349457549- 375560650. | 354-486 |
| RK-R, RM-R | 2.5-3.5 | 2.8-3.75 | 349457549- 375560650. | 508-641 | ||
| Sanyo. | Japan | SA | 2.1-5,2 | - | 440345605- 670450646. | 290-460 |
| SA-H. | 2.1-5,2 | 2.5-5.7 | 440345605- 670450646. | 300-580 | ||
| Electra. | Israel | Kc. | 1.5-6.4 | - | 470480320- 670455705. | 300-878 |
| KC-R. | 2.5-6.2 | 2.5-6.2 | 560520350- 670455705. | 555-940 | ||
| Hitachi. | Japan | RA | 2,05-3,55 | - | 345470520- 345470580. | 406-675 |
| RA-CLH | 2.6; 3,55 | 2.6; 3.75 | 375560650. | 680; 800. | ||
| Sharp. | Japan | AF | 2,1-6.9 | - | There is no data | 320-851 |
| Toshiba. | Japan | Rac | 1.95-6.5 | - | 340520525- 435660720. | 591 -863. |
| Rac | 2.55-4,65 | 2.75-4,85 | 400560530- 435660720. | 778-1068. | ||
| Carrier. | USA | FC, MC. | 2.55-3,52. | - | 330470600- 375560650. | From 540. |
| FQ, MQ. | 2.55-3,52. | 2,22-3,2 | 330470600- 375560650. | Up to 746. | ||
| White- Westinghouse. | USA | AX 094Y5C. | 2.6 | - | 370610570. | 450. |
| AX, AV. | 2.6-7 | 2.8-3.8 | 370610570- 460680680. | 580-1075 | ||
| Ballu. | Taiwan | Kc. | 1.5-2.5 | - | 310470380- 340520580. | 148-253 |
| Kcr | 2.5-6 | 2.5-6 | 340520533- 436660756. | 329-528 | ||
| GENERAL. | Japan | AKH, AMH, AFH, ALH | 2,05-7.7 | - | 349457455- 428710877. | 515-1374. |
| AKH, AMH, AFH, ALH | 2.5-6,15 | 2.8-6.25 | 349457548- 428710877. | 845-1242. | ||
| Polar Bear. | China | Kw. | 1.5-2.5 | - | 450322375- 4503345575. | 360-568. |
| Kwr. | 3,3. | 3,3. | 560375615 | 600. | ||
| Airwell. | France | May. | 2-6 | - | 560520350- 670710455. | 447-866 |
| May R. | 3,2-6 | 3.2-5.5 | 610565380- 670710455. | 683-1020 | ||
| Haier | China | HW-C. | 1,47-6.45 | - | 500440350- 810710460. | 296-608. |
| HW-H. | 2,05-7.03 | 2,05-7.03 | 340520570- 810710460. | 339-643 | ||
| GREE. | China | Kc. | 1.8-6 | - | 470378335- 660740430. | 280-700 |
| KCD, Kcr | 2.5-4.6 | 2.3-5 | 470378335- 660740430. | 400-555 | ||
| "Elems" | Russia | KB | 1.6-3,15 | - | 590525370- 400560630. | 350-450 |
| KB | 2. | 2. | 590525370. | 420. | ||
| * - compiled according to companies specializing in climate supplies |
Sufficient power in the right place
Select the window conditioner follows, based on the simple calculation: for every 10m2 area of the room with a ceiling height of 2.7m in a typical apartment in a panel or brick house requires about 1kW of the refrigeration power of the device. True, this calculation is just enough for the middle strip of Russia. If the room has a complex shape, the ceilings with a height of 3.5m, a significant area of glazing or poor thermal insulation, and also forced by electrical equipment, the specified power may not be enough. In addition cases, before buying a conditioner, it is better to contact a professional climate company in advance. Another option out of the position is "rebooting" by power, buying significantly (approximately 1.5 times) more powerful equipment.
When installing the purchased air conditioner, it is necessary to strictly follow the manufacturer's instructions. As a rule, the first thing is required to perform a rectangular opening in the window or in the wall (5-10mm more than the dimensions of the device's casing). Here the main thing is not to be mistaken with the location of the opening. It is better to choose a place where the device will not fall dirt and precipitation, in a shady. You can hinder the "OBR" higher, but not under the most ceiling: the gap between the ceiling and the upper panel of the air conditioner should be at least 170-200mm. Otherwise, it is likely to succeed in cooled air back to the device, which is why the effectiveness of its work will decrease. From the side of the street, the nearest obstacle in the outdoor heat exchanger (condenser) air (for example, the wall of the neighboring house) must defend from the outer fence lattice at least 500mm.
Attention! When choosing a place for opening under air conditioning, it is necessary to remember that the outer holes (blinds) from above and from the sides of the device housing should be communicated with the external environment. They are categorically impossible to close the wall, thus depriving the air access device. In other words, part of the air conditioner should hang in the air on the street. Obstacles for the flow out of the condenser are in good way to be located at least 150 mm from the upper and 400mm from the side blinds.
Traditionally, for mounting the window air conditioner, a frame with slope (dusting) from a steel corner profile with a width of the shelf width 30-40mm is used. This frame is fixed in the opening in the installation position. To improve the suspension of condensate, the air conditioner should be positioned so that the lower edge of the outer part is 5-10mm below the lower edge of the inside. The device is then pushed into the frame. If necessary, a special visor is mounted for protection against sunlight and precipitation. The gaps between the body of the air conditioner and the walls of the opening are compacted using the mounting foam. Some window models have a lightweight removable case. In this case, make a frame from the corners not necessarily. When installing, it is the light hull that is placed in the opening first, after which the entire "filling" of the air conditioner is pushed into it.
Low power appliances often have a plug to connect to the power supply network. Powerful window conditioner must be connected to an electrical network through a separate wiring and an individual automatic. It is better if the connection is performed by a qualified electrician.
The editors thanks the supermarket "The World of the Perfect Climate" for the help of photography of equipment and the company Ahi-Carrier, Haier, Samsung, LG, Panasonic, Sharp, Rusklimat, "Fifth Season" for the provided equipment illustrations.