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Inverter air conditioners โ€“ description and characteristics

Inverter air conditioners are a superior type of AC unit that provides efficient and cost-effective cooling. They feature variable speed compressors, allowing them to adjust to changing temperature levels for maximum cooling efficiency. This enables them to use up to 40% less energy than traditional air conditioning units, resulting in lower electricity bills. Inverter air conditioners also run quietly and provide even temperatures without drastic temperature drops or fluctuations, making them great for all-day use and creating comfortable environments. They come with a range of functions, such as anti-bacterial filters and ionized purification systems, to offer superior air quality.

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In this Article: Differences Between Inverter and Non-Inverter Air Conditioners comparison of the performance of inverter and conventional split systems; positive and negative characteristics; what is the difference between inverter air conditioners from different manufacturers.

Inverter air conditioners - description and characteristics

The hot summer will happen in three months and the townspeople, who have not taken care of purchasing climatic air conditioning systems in advance, will fully feel the hot breath of the city inside their apartments and houses. The search for means of escape from the heat will inevitably lead households to air conditioner salons, where they will have to choose not only between brands, models and manufacturers of split systems, but also between conventional air conditioning and inverter devices. And the first thing that catches your eye when studying an inverter air conditioner is its rather high cost with external identity with cheaper models. To find out what is the difference between inverter splits and non-inverter models and go to the salons where air conditioners are sold, armed with the necessary knowledge, we investigate their technical characteristics.

How an inverter air conditioner differs from a conventional split

If you have a preliminary opinion that air conditioning units capable of operating both for cooling and heating are called inverter, this is not the case, almost any modern split systems and mobile air conditioners can work in these modes. Inverter air conditioners are equipped with an inverter control unit that changes the rotational speed of the compressor motor during operation. For this purpose, the inverter generates direct current from alternating current, then converts it again into alternating current, but with a different frequency required to maintain the specified temperature regime of the split system..

Inverter air conditioners - description and characteristics

Letโ€™s compare the principles of operation of conventional and inverter air conditioners in the table:

Stages of work Conventional air conditioner (split system) Inverter air conditioner (split system)
1 Turning on the device. Work steps are identical.
2 Indoor unit temperature sensor measures the room temperature and compares it to a user-set temperature.
3 In the event of a difference between the existing and set temperatures, the control unit starts the compressor.
4 After starting, the compressor works at maximum power, it needs to bring the room temperature to the one set by the user for a minimum period.
five As soon as the temperature sensor detects that the set temperature and the room temperature are the same, the compressor stops.. Upon reaching the required room temperature, the control unit slows down the rotation of the motor in the compressor to 5% of full power, but does not stop it.
6 The temperature sensor periodically monitors the temperature difference between the existing and the set one, as soon as the difference is more than 2-3 ยฐ โ€“ the compressor turns on at 100% power. The sensor monitors the temperature difference continuously and without interruption, when a difference of 0.5 ยฐ appears, the compressor power gradually increases, but there is no need for full load.

Switching on cycles with 100% compressor load, typical for conventional split systems, are accompanied by sharp surges in power consumption, high loads on the power grid, and cause increased wear of climatic devices. It is for this reason that a prerequisite is indicated in the data sheets of non-inverter air conditioners โ€“ the device can work only 8 hours a day, no more. Inverter splits are superior to conventional air conditioners โ€“ there are no intermittent loads on the power grid and compressor, 24-hour operation is not critical for them.

Inverter air conditioners - description and characteristics

Letโ€™s compare the performance characteristics of inverter and non-inverter splits:

Description of characteristics Regular air conditioner Inverter air conditioner Conclusion
Air temperature at the outlet of the indoor unit of the split system from 5 to 7 ยฐ ะก from 12 to 15 ยฐ ะก The flow of cold air leaving the non-inverter split during operation requires careful planning of the installation site of the indoor unit, otherwise overcooling is inevitable. The air stream entering the room from the inverter climatic device has a higher temperature, which means that the threat of catching a cold is minimal.
Working temperature limits, average from -5 to +43 ยฐ ะก from -10 to +43 ยฐ ะก Inverter split systems are able to work for heating at lower temperatures outside.
Energy consumption, average from 600 to 800 W from 350 to 550 W In operation, the inverter air conditioner is more economical โ€“ the difference compared to non-inverters is about 30%. (*)
Noise level during operation, average 30 dBA from 19 to 21 dB Compared to even the least noisy models of conventional splits, the sound from the operating inverter is almost inaudible.
Room cooling time in turbo mode, average from 1 to 1.5 hours from 20 to 40 minutes The compressor of an inverter air conditioner has a 30% power reserve especially for turbo operation, while in non-inverters only the fan is accelerated.
Service life, average from 6 to 7 years old from 8 to 10 years old In the absence of operating cycles of shutdown and start-up, the inverter air conditioner is able to serve the owners longer than the usual one.

(*) โ€“ The operating cycles of non-inverter air conditioners are accompanied by transient processes, electromechanical and thermodynamic. First of all, they require high starting currents to start the rotor rotation. However, immediately after starting, a conventional air conditioner is not able to cool the room, because its compressor needs to pump freon in a volume of about 50% to the high-pressure zone from the low-pressure zone. At this stage, both units of the split system are under maximum load with the consumption of a large amount of electricity, but the generated cold is wasted, entering the external unit of the air conditioner. During operation of the inverter air conditioner, there is no cyclicality โ€“ hence the energy savings.

Pros and cons of inverter air conditioners

In terms of their positive characteristics, split systems equipped with an inverter control unit surpass any air conditioners that do not have it:

  • twice as quickly go to the temperature regimes set by the user;
  • electronic control of the rotation of the rotor in the compressor ensures the maintenance of the temperature in the room with an accuracy of 0.5 ยฐ C;
  • operation at extremely low speeds of the compressor and fans provides a low noise level of the outdoor and indoor units;
  • if an inverter split of sufficient power is selected for this room, then the energy savings will be from 30 to 60% (depending on the model and manufacturer);
  • low load on the power grid in the absence of high starting currents;
  • when electric current is consumed, there are no reactive components, so the threat of heating electrical wires is low.

Inverter air conditioners - description and characteristics

Negative characteristics of air conditioners-inverters:

  • their cost is higher than that of conventional air conditioning devices โ€“ about 1.5 times;
  • the electronics of the control unit is extremely sensitive to voltage drops in the mains;
  • the external block of the inverter split system has larger dimensions and weight than conventional splits โ€“ it houses the power electronics and heat sinks;
  • the sensitivity of the temperature sensors will not allow the air conditioner to be turned on at the outdoor temperature limit (usually from -10 to +43 ยฐ ะก), while the less sensitive sensors of conventional air conditioners will allow them to work in these conditions, albeit for wear and tear;
  • The efficiency of the inverter converter is always below 100%, so some energy losses will still be.

At the end

With outwardly equal parameters, inverter air conditioners have different operational characteristics, which is associated with unequal possibilities in regulating the operation of the compressor. A number of inverter characteristics depend on the range in which the adjustment is carried out โ€“ performance, noise, power consumption. Inverter split systems from Japanese manufacturers, such as Mitsubishi Electric and Daikin, occupy the leading positions in these indicators โ€“ their products have a compressor regulation range of 25โ€“80% and even, in the case of super inverter class models, an adjustment range of 5โ€“90% โ€ฆ Compared to Japanese inverters, Chinese models are capable of regulating the compressor operation only in the range of 40โ€“70%, leveling the economic advantages of inverter air conditioners to a minimum. It should be noted that in addition to characteristics, models and manufacturers, it will be important to correctly install air conditioners at the place of their installation โ€“ the installation of inverter models should not be trusted by random people.

Inverter air conditioners - description and characteristics

Inverter split systems are ideal for use in rooms where people are constantly, providing gentle conditions for users โ€“ silence, no cold air flows, constant temperature conditions at any time of the day, therefore such air conditioners are installed in childrenโ€™s and bedrooms.

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Comments: 3
  1. Ember

    Could you please provide more information on the description and characteristics of inverter air conditioners? Iโ€™m interested in learning about their benefits and how they differ from regular air conditioners. Thank you!

    Reply
  2. Hadley

    What are the key features and advantages of inverter air conditioners compared to traditional ones? How do they work differently and do they really provide more energy efficiency? Can they be used in all types of spaces or are they designed for specific environments?

    Reply
  3. Penelope Russell

    Could you please explain the different features and characteristics of inverter air conditioners? How do they differ from regular air conditioners and what benefits do they offer? Do they save energy and provide better temperature control?

    Reply
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