AC Cooling Coil:
The cooling coil in an air conditioning (AC) system is a crucial component responsible for cooling and dehumidifying the air before it is circulated into the living or working space. It is often located within the indoor unit of a split system air conditioner or in an air handling unit (AHU) of a central HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system.
Here’s how the AC cooling coil works:
- Air Circulation: Warm and humid air from the room is drawn into the indoor unit through a fan.
- Cooling Medium: The cooling coil contains a series of tubes or fins that are connected to a refrigeration system. This system typically uses a cold liquid refrigerant that circulates through the coils.
- Heat Exchange: As the warm indoor air passes over the cooling coil, the refrigerant inside the coil absorbs the heat from the air. This heat exchange process causes the air to cool down.
- Dehumidification: In addition to cooling the air, the cooling coil also causes moisture in then the air to condense. This results in the removal of humidity from the air, contributing to a more comfortable indoor environment.
- Cooled and Dehumidified Air: After passing over the cooling coil, the air is now cooler and drier. This conditioned air is then distributed back into the room to provide a more comfortable and pleasant indoor environment.
Purpose of AC cooling coil :
- The AC cooling coil plays a vital role in the overall air conditioning process, as it is responsible for reducing both temperature and humidity, creating a more comfortable living or working environment. However, it’s essential to maintain the cooling coil properly to ensure efficient operation. Over time, dirt, dust, and other contaminants can accumulate on the coil, reducing its efficiency. Regular maintenance, such as cleaning or replacing air filters and cleaning the coil, can help maintain the AC system’s performance and energy efficiency.in the air to condense. This results in the removal of humidity from the air, contributing to a more comfortable indoor environment.
- In some systems, such as central air conditioners or heat pumps, the cooling coil may be integrated with a heating coil to provide both cooling and heating capabilities in a single system. This type of coil is often referred to as an “evaporator/condenser coil” in heat pump systems, where it can work in reverse during the heating mode to extract heat from the outdoor air and release it indoors.
Which coil is better in AC?
Types of AC Cooling Coils:
- Window AC Cooling Coil: Cooling coil is used in window AC type.
Split AC Cooling Coil: Cooling coil is used in split AC type.
Life of AC cooling coil
For an evaporator coil to live out the fullest extent of its life, the AC unit must be regularly maintained. If proper maintenance is regularly performed, then the evaporator coils should last 10 to 15 years, which is the ideal lifetime for an evaporator coil and comparable to the lifespan of an AC unit.
Performance of AC cooling coil
The basic performance criterion for any typical cooling coil is often judged by its cooling capacity (sensible) and its dehumidification (latent) capability, which is measured in terms of SHR.
Causes of damaging the cooling coil : When evaporator coils start to leak because of corroded copper tubing. This can happen as a result of formic acid accumulating on the evaporator coil after interacting with copper, water, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in the air inside your home.