An air conditioner is a complex system made up of several components, but the four main parts that do the heavy lifting of moving air indoors and out are the evaporator, condenser, expansion valve, and compressor. Each of these components is located either on the hot side or the cold side of the system. The evaporator is situated on the cold side and its primary purpose is to receive liquid coolant. This liquid coolant is then combined with a fan that blows air over the cold coils in your home.
The pressure drop causes the liquid refrigerant to convert to gas. The expansion valve is located between the evaporator and condenser coils and its main function is to regulate the flow of coolant to the evaporator. It removes pressure from the liquid refrigerant, allowing it to convert to gas in the evaporator. The compressor is situated on the hot side and its primary role is to pressurize the coolant.
This large electric pump repressurizes the refrigerant gas, converting it back into liquid form. The compressor works together with the refrigerant to convert low-pressure gas into high-pressure gas, which then leaves the compressor and enters the coil of the condenser.
Other Components of an Air Conditioner
In addition to these four main components, there are several other parts that make up an air conditioner. These include:- Thermostat
- Air blowing unit
- Air filter
- Evaporator
- Condenser coil
The blower then sends this cooled air through ducts to different areas of your home. Inside the evaporator coils is refrigerant which captures heat from the air through a heat transfer process. This heat is then released outside your home by way of condenser coils.
