AEMA-2203 (Fall 2022)
Principles of Maintenance
[SECTION 4]
Lab Report 8:
SPLIT UNIT
AIR CONDITIONER
Student name and ID:
Fouad Noorhossain – 60102591
Lab Experiment Date: 11th October, 2022
Instructor: Mr. Jamel Mezghani
Mechanical Engineering Technology
INTRODUCTION AND THEORY
Figure 1: Air conditioning system diagram
A Basic Air conditioner is simply a cooling system for a room or an interior space, that
lowers the temperature of the space with the help of heat exchanging principle. The main/major
components of an AC system are the Compressor, condenser, expansion valve and the
evaporator. Where the condenser and the evaporator are the heat exchangers. A Split-system air
conditioner is a unit with the condenser and compressor placed outdoors, and an indoor unit
containing the evaporator.
Working: A split system air conditioner works by pumping a refrigerant gas through the
unit's cooling circuit with the help of the compressor (outdoor). As the gas pumps through the
condenser, it cools down and condenses into a liquid. This liquid is called the refrigerant, that
circulates between all the main components. The expansion valve regulates the flow of the
refrigerant. The liquid refrigerant is then pushed into the evaporator (before it passes through the
expansion valve), expanding and changing back into a gas. Hence, providing a cool air indoor.
OBJECTIVES
1. The objective of this lab is to identify and understand the functions of the main
components of a Split unit AC.
2. To study how to perform a preventive maintenance of a split unit AC.
Q1) Identification of parts:
Figure 2: Split AC unit parts identification
Q2) List of components and their Functions:
Component name Quantity Function Photo
The compressor is
responsible for circulating
Compressor 1 the refrigerant between the
evaporator and condenser
coils
Cools the refrigerant and
Evaporator 1
absorbs the heat
Regulates the flow of the
Expansion valve 1 refrigerant into the
evaporator
Air Filter is used to remove
Air Filter 1 dust and particles out of the
air in the evaporator
Converts the high-pressure
Condenser 1 gas to liquid using heat
exchanging phenomenon
Refrigerant
(Specially designed 1 cylinder Refrigerant cycles through
fluid that can change your air conditioner,
(measured it changes from a liquid to a
from liquid to gas or
on gas and absorbs and releases
gas to liquid easily,
amounts) heat throughout the process.
due to its very low
boiling point)
Helps in heat exchanging
phenomenon.
Fan 2 Blows out cool air in case of
evaporator and blows out
hot in case of condenser
Q3) Routine checks on split unit AC:
Inspect and clean the air filter, at least Once a week.
Check the indoor and outdoor units for noise and vibration (condenser and evaporator)
Check the temperature of the outdoor and indoor units.
Check refrigerant pipe connection for signs of leakage.
Check and clean indoor unit condensate tray and drain.
Check suction & discharge operating pressure.
Check the refrigerant level.
Repair air filter if damaged
LEARNINGS AND OBSERVATIONS
The Condenser and the Evaporator are both heat exchangers, the Evaporator sits inside
the room being cooled whereas the condenser sits outside the property.
The compressor circulates a refrigerate in the pipe work which cycles between all of the
main components.
The refrigerate entering the evaporator is a low temperature, low pressure and liquid-
vapor mixture, that flows in side of the pipe. The fan that is moving the ambient air of the
room from the outside of the pipe, moves through as cold air due the heat exchange
between through the pipe.
The refrigerate that is moving inside the pipes of the evaporator, picks up more and more
heat, the more it travels through those pipes. The refrigerate becomes completely gas by
the time it exits the evaporator.
If the refrigerate fails to be in completely gas state, before reaching the compressor. It
may damage the compressor (because of the presence of liquid droplets). This can be
controlled by a bulb which is filled with another refrigerate, connected to the expansion
valve.
The refrigerate temperature should be higher than the atmospheric temperature in the
condenser side, because otherwise, the heat exchange between the outside atmosphere
and the system may not take place. The heat may then remain in the system, and cause
problems.
If, maintenance of AC is not done properly. The cooling system loses efficiency and poor
indoor air quality.
