CAMIGUIN POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE

Institute of Engineering & Computer Studies

Balbagon, Mambajao, Camiguin

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

In

INDUSTRIAL ELECTRONICS

“Air Conditioner”

Presented by:
Jovelyn Clair L. Rosario
BS Electrical Engineering – 03

Presented to:
Engr. Noven S. Villaber
Instructor, Industrial Electronics

October 2023
Air Conditioner

This system is used to control the heating functions of the fan. When the liquid refrigerant
inside the evaporator coil turns to gas, the heat from the indoor air is absorbed into the
refrigerant, which cools the air as it travels over the coil. The indoor unit’s fan then pumps
the cooled air through the home’s piping back to the various living areas. Air heating works
on the principle that heat is always transferred from a hot object to a cooler one, which
creates cold air in the house/home.

THEORY

Clearly! The theory behind the working principle of an air conditioner is based on the
vapor compression cooling cycle. This cycle, also known as the Carnot cycle, is a
thermodynamic process that allows heat to transfer from one region to another.
An air conditioner consists of four main components: a compressor, a condenser, an
expansion valve and an evaporator. All these components play a vital role in the
cooling process.

1. 1. Evaporator: Hot air from the interior is sucked into the air conditioner and
goes over the evaporator coil. The evaporator coil contains a refrigerant, usually a
low-boiling liquid such as R-410A or R-22. As hot air flows over the evaporator
coil, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the air, causing it to evaporate and become
low-pressure vapor.

2. Compressor: The compressor then compresses the low-pressure steam. The

compressor increases the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant, turning it
into high-pressure, high-temperature vapor.

3. Condenser: High pressure steam flows into a condenser coil located outside the
building or space to be cooled. As the refrigerant passes through the condenser, it
releases heat to the outside environment. This heat transfer causes the refrigerant
to condense back into a high-pressure liquid.

4. Expansion valve: The high-pressure fluid then passes through an expansion

valve, also known as a choke device. The expansion valve lowers the pressure and
temperature of the refrigerant and turns it into a low-pressure liquid.

During this cycle, the air conditioner continuously circulates the refrigerant, taking
heat from the indoor air and releasing it outside.
In particular, the compressor consumes electricity to compress the refrigerant and
maintain circulation.
However, the overall effect is a cooling sensation indoors, as heat is transferred from
the air to the refrigerant and from there to the outside environment.
 INPUT, LOGIC AND OUTPUT OF AIR CONDITIONER

Information Gathering Decision Making Actuating Device

(INPUT) (LOGIC) (OUTPUT)

 500-4,000 watts of  Individual Controller  Control the opening

electricity
 120 / 240 volts
 Desired Temperature
Setpoint: The user sets
the desired internal
temperature. This input
serves as an object of
control system
maintenance.
 Current Temperature:
This input helps the
control system
determine if the air
conditioner needs to
cool or heat the room.
 User Preferences and
Settings: The control
system can also take
into account additional
user settings such as
fan speed, air
distribution settings or
certain modes such as
sleep mode or economy
mode.
 ON/OFF and closing of airflow
 Feedback Control: This in response to the
helps maintain a stable thermostat.
and accurate  Fan Speed Adjustment:
temperature around the This control system
set point. adjusts the fan speed to
 Fan Speed Control: The distribute the
control system can conditioned air
adjust the fan speed effectively throughout
based on factors such the space.
as the temperature  Air Distribution
difference between the Control: It may control
desired set point and dampers or vents to
the current temperature, regulate the flow of
room occupancy or conditioned air to
user preferences. different areas or zones
within the building.

MATERIALS/EQUIPMENT OF AIR CONDITIONER

The control system of an air condition consists of several components. Below are some of the
main materials/equipment used in air conditioning control systems:

Compressor: is located in the inner part of the condenser and is responsible for compressing
the vapors of the refrigerant.

Refrigerant: is a key part of the air-cooling process and resides in the copper coils of the
system.
Condenser coil: is located outside the home, where the refrigerant releases the heat absorbed
from within.

Evaporator coil: is the component of your AC system that absorbs heat from your home.

Fan: the fan will run without the compressor turning on.

Thermostat: gives a signal to the device to reach the desired temperature in the room.

Filters: is a device for filtering particles from the air. As

Expansion valve: removes pressure from the liquid refrigerant, allowing it to expand or
change from liquid to vapor in the evaporator.

Copper tubing: Copper is more resistant to oxidation and corrosion over a longer period of
time, which gives air conditioners a longer life.

Insulation: makes it possible for air conditioners to maintain temperature.

Sensors: The AC sensor for the thermostat is located near the evaporator coils. Evaporator
temperature control is one of the most important functions of air conditioner temperature
sensors.
Microcontrollers: are used to automate the operation of the device based on user’s
instructions.
Control panel: is a device used to monitor and control the operation of the air conditioning
system. It consists of a panel with several buttons, switches and displays that allow the user to
adjust the temperature, fan speed and other settings of the AC unit.
Remote control: Similar to the cooling mode, the automatic mode of the air conditioner
remote control helps to reach and maintain a certain temperature set point. AC automatically
adjusts compressor and fan speed according to current room temperature.
Relays contactor: Is a switch that controls the electrical current to your air conditioner,
allowing you to turn the air conditioner on and off and give you cool air when you need it.
FLOW CHART

START

Read Designed
Temperature
Setpoint

Read current
Temperature.

Compare
current
Temperature.

Yes

Adjust fan speed.

Check user
preference settings.

Display
current
Temperature.

END
 Read Desired Temperature Setpoint: This step involves reading the desired
temperature set point from the user interface or control interface. The set point
represents the target temperature that the control system wants to maintain. This
acts as an instruction to the control system to determine if cooling or heating is
required.

 Read Current Temperature: The control system reads the prevailing temperature with
temperature sensors or thermostats placed in the cabin. This input provides
information about the current temperature level. This helps the control system
determine if the air conditioner needs to cool or heat the room.

 Compare Current Temperature with Setpoint: The control system compares the
current temperature value with the desired set point. This step determines whether
cooling or heating is needed. If the current temperature is lower than the set value, it
means that heating is required. Conversely, if the current temperature is higher than
the set point, cooling is required.

 Activation of Heating or Cooling: Depending on the comparison result, the control

system activates the heating or cooling components of the air conditioner
accordingly. If the current temperature is lower than the set point, the control system
activates the heating component to heat the interior. If the current temperature is
higher than the set point, the control system activates the cooling component to cool
the interior.

 Adjust Fan Speed: The control system can adjust the fan speed based on factors such
as the temperature difference between the current temperature and the set point,
user preferences or energy efficiency considerations. Proper air circulation and
distribution is very important to maintain a pleasant environment. The control
system ensures that the fan speed is regulated so that air movement is sufficient and
comfort and energy efficiency are optimized.
  Check User Preferences and Settings: The control system monitors other user settings
or settings that may affect the operation of the air conditioner. These may include fan
speed settings, specific modes such as sleep mode or power saving mode, or other
user-defined settings. Taking into account the user’s preferences, the control system
can adapt the operation of the air conditioner to individual needs and increase
comfort.

 Display Current Temperature and Settings (if applicable): If the air conditioner control
system includes a display or user interface, this step displays the current temperature
reading and any related settings or settings. It provides feedback to the user, allowing
the current temperature to be monitored and adjusted if necessary. Other user-
defined settings or modes can also be shown on the screen, providing transparency
and control over the operation of the air conditioner.

 End: This is where the flow diagram of the control system ends, indicating the
completion of the control process.

APPLICATIONS OF AIR CONDITIONER

These are some of the other applications of air conditioner

 Industrial air conditioners regulate the temperature of the workplace to avoid

extreme heat and humidity. They are an important part of an industrial enterprise
because they ensure the efficient operation of production machines and the comfort of
workers during work.

 Automobile air conditioning systems cool the occupants of a vehicle in hot weather.
Automotive air conditioning is the process by which the air is cooled and cleaned, the
humidity lowered and the air circulated.

 Commercial buildings: Air conditioning control systems are widely used in

commercial buildings such as offices, shopping centers, hotels and hospitals. These
 systems help maintain a comfortable indoor environment for residents and ensure
energy efficiency by regulating temperature, humidity and ventilation.

 Data Centers: require precise temperature and humidity control to prevent

overheating and ensure reliable operation of servers and other critical equipment.

 Greenhouses: Greenhouses use air conditioning control systems to maintain the ideal
temperature and humidity for plant growth. These systems can be programmed to
create specific climatic conditions for different types of crops.
REFERENCES

Air con Cambridge Dictionary. Retrieved January 6, 2023

https://www.archtoolbox.com/how-air-conditioners-work/ Article updated: May 29, 2021
A Novel Energy Benchmarking Methodology Based on an Agent-Based Modeling Method –
Scientific Figure on ResearchGate. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-
process-flowchart-of-the-air-conditioning-Agent-based-model_fig1_320763186 [accessed 6
Oct, 2023]
Darvid, A.N., Smith, K.A., Merril, E.W. and Brain, P.L.T, 1971, Effect of secondary fluid
motion on laminar flow heat transfer in helically coiled tubes. AICHE Journal, 17, 1142–
1222.