Choosing an air conditioner for a house or other buildings, you need to take into account, first of all, their area and configuration. Thanks to this, you can effectively set up the equipment, completely eliminating possible overloads and unnecessary costs for electricity. Duct split-system is an ideal option for a private house, apartment and other premises that have high ceilings and large areas.

What is a channel conditioner

Ducted air conditioners are a combination of technical devices that change the physical characteristics of air (humidity, temperature) by passing it through itself. In this case, the technique itself is in the ventilation duct.

Channel equipment is one of the types of split systems, the purpose of which is to provide a microclimate in parallel in several rooms. Such a technique consists of an indoor and an outdoor unit. The first is in the inter-ceiling space and has a system of tapping, distributing the rooms already cooled air. The second is on the street and removes warm air from the premises.

Air ducts are designed individually, because the number of their bends and length depend on the size and configuration of the room.

Purpose of the channel air conditioner and features of its design

The channel technique operates in recirculation mode, so it does not always provide rooms with fresh air. This is due to the fact that if the temperature in the room drops to 14 oC, the equipment will warm up the air, even if it is operating in cooling mode. Thanks to the use of such a device with a heat pump, you can warm up the air in winter. But when the ambient temperature drops below 11 oC, the performance of the air conditioner may already be short.

To ensure an all-season flow of fresh air, water heaters are connected to the device, which Provide air heating in the cold season or use special ventilation systems that have a built-in heater.

The complete set of the channel equipment includes such elements:

1. External block. It practically does not differ from the external block of the traditional air conditioner and performs the same functions.

   The outdoor unit of the channel air conditioner performs the same functions as in the conventional split system

2. The indoor unit. It pumps through itself a considerable amount of air, because of which condensate is formed, which is drained by a drain pump. Structurally it is a rectangular metal block with fittings for connecting the freon line.
3. Air ducts. They are hidden from the eyes and pass in ventilation or ceiling channels. In the premises, an air intake grille is installed to facilitate air supply and distribution.
4. Fan. Serves to move air through the air conditioner.
5. Heater. Heats the displaced air streams to the set temperature.
6. Filters. Needed to clean the air of fluff and dust.

   Inside the channel air conditioner there are filters that hold down fluff, dirt and dust

7. Water pump. It is a condensate pump that removes liquid from the air conditioner. It usually consists of a tube that drains the liquid, the pump itself and the tank with a float.
8. Adapter. Connects to the indoor unit and supplies air from the room to the device with the help of a retraction system.

   The adapter serves to collect, supply and distribute air through the rooms

Any channel device can be equipped with additional elements, such as:

• fine filters, as well as deep air purification. In this technique, additional filter elements of coal type can be used, especially if odors are to be eliminated. Deodorizing, photocatalytic, and also antiallergenic and other types of filters are often used;

  The charcoal filter provides additional cleaning of incoming air and removes extraneous smells

• recuperator. This device heats incoming air with a warm flow, which is removed from the room. Such a device minimizes the cost of heating the house in a cool period, but the recuperator is not an alternative heating source;

  In winter the recuperator does not allow to lose room heat, and in the summer it does not let hot air into the room

• heater. It can be water or electric, it can reduce the cost of heating the rooms. The heater eliminates the restrictions on the operation of the channel equipment in the heating mode.

  The heater allows the use of a channel conditioner to heat rooms throughout the entire heating season

Video: channel air conditioning with fresh air

Principle of operation of a channel air conditioner

The principle of the channel air conditioner is to remove warm air from the room with further transfer to the boundaries of the building. The channel device operates in the same way as the other refrigeration equipment. The refrigerant moves in a gaseous state and passes into the liquid by means of two units: a condenser (part of external equipment) and an evaporator (located in the indoor unit).

In the indoor unit through the diffuser and grilles for ventilation comes air from the room, which is subsequently processed in a special way. Then the cooled air returns to the required temperature.

Considering the operation of the channel equipment, you can distribute the low temperature air flow to large areas of the room due to the fact that the ventilation ducts are wired. During the cooling of the space, the collected heat is taken to the street as a condensate.

The channel air conditioner operates on the principle of local air exchange, that is, takes and processes air flows in the room, and then returns the cooled air back through the air ducts. On sale there is a channel inverter equipment having the established function of power control depending on the set air temperature. This technique has extensive capabilities and high productivity.

Ducted air conditioners can be divided into industrial and household by purpose, and by performance - by:

• high-pressure;
• medium-pressure;
• low pressure.

The channel air conditioner has a motor - a compressor of the required power. At the same time, the highest productivity is provided by high-pressure technology, and the minimum - by low-pressure equipment. High-pressure air conditioners work perfectly even if there is a significant length of the ventilation shafts. They allow you to serve large areas in which you have to arrange a significant number of knees and valves, where the air flow reduces its speed.

Types of channel air conditioners

Channel air conditioners are divided into models that work exclusively for cooling, and those that function both for heating and cooling. In addition, they are divided into:

• inverter. Such conditioners convert an alternating current into a constant one, and then form it with the necessary frequency. Due to this principle of operation, the rotational speed of the compressor motor is changed, so the productivity of the equipment is increased;

  The inverter channel air conditioner is capable of changing the fan speed depending on the room temperature

• non-inverting. They maintain the desired room temperature with the help of a compressor, which is turned off and turned on from time to time. However, electricity is consumed much more. Such equipment is more difficult to adjust, it more inertially and slowly changes the air temperature.

As already mentioned, the channel equipment differs by the air pressure produced, which determines the length, as well as the configuration of the air ducts:

• low-pressure equipment can provide an air head up to 45 Pa. For such a device, the length of ducts can not be more, m. These are the simplest models that cool only one room, so they are universally applied in hotel rooms;
• medium-pressure devices can create pressure up to 100 Pa and serve several rooms at the same time. It is installed in small offices, as well as in apartments, and can work with air ducts up to 8-10 m in length;
• high-pressure technology is the most powerful, since it has an air pressure of up to 250 Pa. Such equipment has its own branched outflow system and is used for large rooms.

  High-pressure channel air-conditioning can provide cool air with a large industrial building or shopping complex

It is also worth mentioning that some devices are capable of mixing fresh air from the street, but basically the channel conditioners are designed for operation only in the circulation mode.

To ensure the influx of fresh air, heaters are connected to the air conditioner or separate intake ventilation elements having a built-in heater are used. Thanks to this combination of equipment, two tasks can be solved at once: air conditioning and ventilation throughout the year.

Calculation of air ducts for a channel air conditioner

In order to correctly calculate the air ducts, it is necessary to know the maximum value of the air flow velocity in the system and the volume of air that passes through a unit of time. The higher the air speed, the smaller the air ducts, but the higher the noise level and the electricity costs. The air speed for private houses usually does not exceed 4 m / s, since at high speeds its movement becomes very noticeable. In industrial buildings, the airflow velocity can reach 8 m / s.

In addition, it must be taken into account that it is not always possible to apply low-speed air ducts with a significant cross-section, since it will be difficult to install them in the space behind the ceiling. Rectangular air ducts help to reduce the height of this space, but it is faster and more convenient to install a system of flexible as well as round ducts.

Calculate the air channel area by the formula Sc = L *, 78 / V, where:

• V - velocity of air flow;
• L - air flow rate;
• Sc is the required area.

Video: ducting for duct air conditioning

Planning of the channel air conditioning system

Do not underestimate the importance of planning a channel air conditioning system. Any structure is unique in its own way, therefore, in each individual case, its own specific conditioning system is selected.

Installation of the channel system is carried out in premises with considerable areas (trade halls, offices, production) or in buildings of individual construction. The combination of several systems into one facilitates the extraction of benefits from equipping the channel equipment with relatively small rooms.

When planning a channel system, you should consider several characteristics:

• power consumption of the air conditioner;
• power for heating;
• power for cooling;
• exchange or air productivity. Expressed as a multiplicity of air exchange in 60 minutes for a certain volume of the room;
• the head of the air. This indicator is critical for large rooms that need airway systems of considerable length. The air conditioner, which gives excellent performance due to the airflow rate for short channels, does not pull a lot of air on the long channel at a slight pressure. And this will negatively affect the efficiency of the system;
• weight and overall parameters.

Installation of channel air conditioners

Installing a channel air conditioner is time consuming, but not so hard work. To install it you need to prepare such a set of tools:

• building level;
• a manometric and vacuum pump;
• punch.

Consumables:

• bracket;
• drain hose;
• heater;
• dowels and other fasteners.

Consumables are usually part of the air conditioner kit, but in the absence of them, it is worth taking up the acquisition of the missing parts. Then you can do the installation of the equipment:

1. Laying and fastening of the route is done with the help of clips and dowels. If the air conditioner is installed at the stage of repairing the premises, all communications can be laid in the stroba.To cut a copper pipe, do notUse an ordinary hacksaw that will leave in the tube various small debris, which, if hit into the compressor, can disable all air conditioning.Apply a special pipe cutter for these purposes.

   At the repair stage it is very convenient to hide all communications in the wall, making in it a shot bar

2. Installation of the cable channel takes place under a slight slope, so that there is no condensation and air blockage in the drain hose. Make a hole with a diameter of 55 mm and lay a box to it.

   To output communications between blocks in the wall, you need to drill a hole 55 cm in diameter for the air conditioner

3. Installing the panel from the indoor unit. Here it is necessary to comply with the universal rule for all types of channel equipment regardless of the manufacturer and model. From the ceiling and the corner of the wall, it is necessary to retreat a minimum of 15 cm. The distance from the curtain to the panel is at least 10 cm. The panel must be fixed strictly horizontally using the level. So you prevent condensate leakage.If this rule is not observed, the technique will often be clogged with dust, which will lead to a decrease in performance, as the air intake deteriorates.

   The distance from the indoor unit to the wall and ceiling must not be less than 15 cm

4. Mount the bracket and connect the track to the indoor unit. Here, no matter what sequence you begin to produce, it is important not to bend the copper tubes much.

   The ends of the tube can not be bent too hard, because they can break or crack

Then we go to the street and take insurance with us.

1. We fix the brackets on the wall horizontally using the building level. This work should be done by two people, since the outdoor unit is quite heavy.

   Brackets for fixing the outdoor unit are fixed strictly on one level

2. After the brackets are fixed, we put on them an external block and fix it with bolts.

   The outdoor unit is mounted on brackets and bolted to them

3. Rolling of the track. This stage of work implies the expansion of copper tubes in the places of their contact. In this case, the rolling equipment is used together with the nozzles. We begin to roll the tube with the fact that we put a nut on it. It is necessary to provide an ideal connection so that Freon does not leak. Do not over tighten the nuts too much - copper is very soft metal.

   You need to tighten the nuts with an average effort, otherwise the metal can be crushed

4. Vacuuming the route is carried out using a special pump that will remove all moisture and dust from it. After it is turned on, a port opens on the manometer, which must be closed, when the arrow shows a vacuum and the pump turns off.If the arrow is notfalls, it means that somewhere "poison" the air, so it is worth checking all the connections and tightening the nuts tight.We also need to check how well the roll is made.
5. Pouring freon. Unscrew the supply hose with a hexagonal wrench. It is important not to confuse it with the suction tube, since the check valve will fail. In this case it is necessary to adhere to the sequence - initially the feed, then the suction. This phase of work also involves checking the electrical connections and fixing the Freon pressure.

   After filling Freon and checking the pressure, it is necessary to inspect all connections and close the valves

If all work is done correctly, you can test the air conditioner in different modes of operation.

Video: how to install a channel conditioner

Selection of a channel air conditioner

Now the channel air conditioners of dozens of manufacturers from different countries are represented on the market, therefore, in order to acquire high-quality products, it is necessary to understand this issue very carefully.

1. Air conditioners of budget class. To reliable, high-quality and at the same low-cost devices belong products from Korea, Italy and Japan. All production of air conditioners of Hyundai, Dantex and Shivaki companies is controlled by their representatives. Producing their products, these firms use only high-quality components. Each presented company has its own extensive line of models, while the best devices are not inferior to the equipment of more expensive manufacturers.

   Channel air conditioners of the Korean company Hyundai are of high quality at an affordable price

2. Medium-level equipment. To the middle class are such popular brands of Japan as Panasonic and Toshiba. These manufacturers offer consumers the best combination of quality and price. Even the most inexpensive models of channel air conditioners have the highest characteristics and are in operation for many years.

   Panasonic offers the highest quality equipment at an average price

3. The technique of premium class. This category of air conditioners is represented by Daikin and Mitsubishi, which are leaders in the market. Such devices are reliable and very high-quality, with each unit of products being checked for all parameters and passes control before implementation, which allows companies to guarantee excellent quality their products.

   In the premium segment there are world-famous manufacturers that guarantee the quality of each unit of their products

The main parameters for which it is necessary to select a channel air conditioner are the created pressure and the productivity of the cold.

1. Static head is determined by the performance of the fans of the device, which must provide the required amount of air in the room for a certain time.
2. The cooling capacity of equipment is the maximum amount of cold air produced by machinery over a certain period of time. This characteristic is indicated in the data sheet by the manufacturer.

Video: Daikin channel air conditioners in the apartment

Maintenance of channel air conditioners

The duct equipment is a cleaning air and a cooling device that can absorb allergens, dust, and dirt. But in order for the equipment to work properly and ensure good air purification, it is necessary to carry out its timely maintenance, which includes the following works:

• cleaning of air conditioner elements;
• antibacterial treatment with the use of chemical high-quality substances;
• disinfection of equipment carried out by steam under high pressure;
• checking the operability of all equipment parts (electrician, freon main, as well as drainage system and units);
• quality control of thermal insulation.

  Cleaning of channel conditioners is performed with the help of special means that remove dust, odor and bacteria

If the installation of the device is done in a hidden manner, then the disassembly of the cells is also included in the maintenance, and their further assembly. In addition, the refrigerant level is measured and, if necessary, refilling of Freon is performed.

At the final stage, the finishing of the walls from various impurities with a special protective film is done.

Advantages and disadvantages of channel air conditioners

In modern homes with sufficient ceiling heights can be installed channel air conditioners, which in this case serve as household appliances.

Main advantages:

1. The channel air conditioning is controlled by an infrastructure or wired remote control.
2. Hidden installation of equipment, as well as its diverting and supplying air ducts will not affect the interior of the room.
3. It is possible to mix fresh air, thereby ensuring a flow of air, which is better enriched with oxygen.
4. One indoor unit of the air conditioner is able to cool the air in several rooms at once.

Negative sides:

1. Quite problematic wiring, calculation, as well as the selection of air ducts. So do not trust such a job with unqualified people.
2. Install channel equipment only in buildings with high ceilings.
3. When one indoor unit is operating in several rooms, the same temperature will be maintained, which in some cases is inconvenient.

Channel air conditioners are the best in the field of creating comfortable conditions in buildings with several rooms. They are almost invisible in the interior, so you will fully feel the dignity of such equipment. In addition, this type of conditioning is quite popular because of its price and decent technical characteristics.