Cooling Info From Warmair.net
Portable Air Conditioners
An air conditioner cannot create cooling; it can only relocate the heat. This heat
is removed in two ways—as an actual temperature drop and
as water. The refrigerant carries the heat outdoors where it is
discharged: while the water, called condensate, is collected separately
and pumped or drained away. When installed properly, most air
conditioners perform these operations automatically. The exception
to this is the portable air conditioner, which must be vented
and drained by the user. It is these features that give the portable
air conditioner its flexibility.
There are two types of portable air conditioners. The first or "evaporative"
cooler uses water to relocate the heat. This type of portable
air conditioner is primarily effective in dry climates, as humidity
is a byproduct of the cooling cycle. This type of portable can
often be found in 12 volt models that adapt well for use in cars,
campers, boats, etc. The second type of portable air conditioner
uses a refrigerant and is very much like the standard window unit,
except that it usually comes on wheels and is meant to operate
on the room's floor. They plug into a standard 120 volt outlet,
and a "vent" must be installed through a nearby window. A condensate
pan must also be dumped periodically when in use, although some
models also exhaust the condensate through the window vent.
Developed mostly for commercial use, the portable air conditioner was designed
to supply extra cooling to temperature sensitive areas during
extreme weather conditions. They are quite useful in protecting
equipment and inhabitants from over heating when the temperature
demands overcome the building's permanent HVAC system. Residential
versions are now available, and can be used in many applications
where cooling is desired.
As mentioned earlier, with little installation effort, they can be used in
the garage, barn, camper, enclosed porch, etc. You can watch TV
with it in the den, then take it to bed with you at night. Even
though they are portable, cooling is a slow process, and when
the unit is relocated, it will take time to condition the air.
Copyright © 1999 Warmair.com, Inc.
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