Typically, the width of the indoor unit of an air conditioner is more than one meter. This is the standard. However, if the block is less than a meter wide, about 70 centimeters, then it can already be called small. There are also models with a width of about 50 centimeters, but they are completely unpopular, so we cannot say whether they are good or not. We have compiled a rating of the best and smallest air conditioners, which customers respond positively to.

The smallest split systems

1st place – Ballu BSWI-09HN1 ($396)

However, what is primarily worthy of attention is its dimensions – 70×28.5×18.8 cm. Therefore, it will fit perfectly into a small room. As for the functionality, everything is in order here: there is an anion generator, an anti-ice system, an inverter! Definitely one of the best compact split systems.

2nd place – Ballu BSWI-12HN1 ($440)

For approximately $440 you can buy Ballu air conditioner BSWI-12HN1 – wall split system with inverter compressor. The productivity of the device is 7.5 m3/min, the cooling power is 3.3 kW and the energy consumption is 1 kW. This is a more powerful system compared to the previous model, which is also reliable and of high quality.

Despite the higher performance, the dimensions remain the same - 70x28.5x18.8 cm. With a width of only 70 cm, this model logically fits into our rating. And it takes second place partly due to the fact that buyers speak of it as an effective and reliable air conditioner. Of course, the device is worthy of attention.

3rd place – SUPRA US410-07HA ($267)

Excellent quality split system. The performance of this air conditioner is 6.33 m3/min with an energy consumption of 850 W.

The indoor unit has the following dimensions: 68x25x18 cm, and its width is 2 cm less than the width of the previous air conditioners in the rating. At the same time, there are many positive reviews about it, in which many buyers primarily note its compactness. The model also copes well with its intended purpose – air cooling – so we can recommend it.

4th place – Pioneer KFR20IW ($250)

For just $250 you can buy a compact and very good air conditioner from the manufacturer Pioneer. The model’s productivity is 8 m3/min, while the energy consumption is 685 W.

The dimensions of the indoor unit are as follows: 68×26.5×19 cm. Also noteworthy is the presence of a deodorizing filter and an anion generator. Of course, this is not the main criterion, but a very solid advantage.

Overall it's great budget air conditioner: It is quiet, has good performance, filters and is small in size.

5th place – Zanussi ZACS-07 HPR ($292)

Wall-mounted split system, designed for use in a room of 20 square meters. Its productivity is 7 m3/min, cooling power is 2100 W, energy consumption is 650 W.

There is a fine filter, a deodorizing filter, as well as an anion generator, which makes the model good decision for allergy sufferers. Its dimensions allowed it to be included in the rating of compact air conditioners – 70×28.5×18.8 cm.

The air conditioner is modern and beautiful appearance, works very quietly and does not interfere with sleep at night. It is also reliable, which is confirmed by the 3-year warranty from the manufacturer.

Small mobile air conditioners

Usually mobile air conditioners are small a priori. However, there are also quite large models with a width of more than 60 cm. We have selected the best compact mobile air conditioners with a width of up to 50 cm. Only those models that have positive reviews from customers were included in the rating.

1st place – Electrolux EACM-10DR/N3 ($412)

An excellent mobile air conditioner that will cost the buyer $412. This is a very productive mobile unit, designed for use in a room with an area of ​​24 square meters.

Its dimensions are as follows: 45×74.7×38.7 cm, and one of its main advantages is its small dimensions. It is worth noting that this is a rather serious model. There are two separate air circuits, thanks to which the cold performance is greatly increased. About the model positive reviews, so we put it first.

2nd place – Electrolux EACM-12EZ/N3 ($447)

Mobile unit with a capacity of 8.167 m3/min and a power of 3500 W in cooling mode. Compared to the previous model, this is a more compact air conditioner with dimensions of 43.6x74.5x39 cm.

This is a great model with good quality assembly, plastic and high performance. It is worth noting, however: some buyers complain about noise and the inability to regulate the air flow - these are its disadvantages. Perhaps the only ones.

3rd place – Electrolux EACM-12EW/TOP/N3_W ($342)

A mobile monoblock costs $342 and has the following dimensions: 43.6×79.7×39 cm. Its productivity is lower than the previous ones and is 4.83 m3/min. Perhaps that is why the cost of the model is lower. However, the air conditioner will provide a comfortable microclimate in a room up to 25 square meters.

High quality build and good materials, low noise during operation and complete equipment - these are its advantages. Perhaps this model cannot be called the most compact, but it still deserves attention as a small mobile air conditioner for the home.

4th place – Zanussi ZACM-09 MP/N1 ($370)

The manufacturer Zanussi is not lagging behind in terms of developing mobile air conditioners and offers us the Zanussi ZACM-09 MP/N1 model worth $370. The productivity of this model is small (5.4 m3/min), but it is quite enough to create coolness in a room of 25 square meters.

The dimensions are as follows: 35x70x32.8 cm. The air conditioner itself is receiving positive reviews, which is not surprising. This is a high-quality and reliable device from a Japanese manufacturer, which has proven itself well a long time ago.

5th place – Zanussi ZACM-07 MP/N1 ($335)

The only difference between this model and the previous one is performance. This mobile air conditioner creates air flow with a capacity of 4.9 m3/min and is intended for use in a room of 20 square meters. Otherwise, there are no differences. This is a compact and good mobile unit that will serve for many years.

Air conditioning has long become commonplace household appliance. Of the variety of air cooling devices, the most popular are split systems, consisting of two block units, one of which is installed outside the room, and the other is located inside. The indoor unit of an air conditioner is a complex device that takes warm air from the premises and sends it back already chilled.

Any air conditioner functions due to the properties of liquids to release thermal energy when releasing liquid and absorbing heat when it evaporates.

The indoor unit is always placed indoors (usually mounted on the wall or ceiling), and the outdoor unit is placed outside it. Both units are connected to each other by electrical wiring and a copper pipeline, through which freon continuously circulates during operation.

Regardless of the design and dimensions, the indoor unit of a split system must have the following components in its design:

• Compressor. Responsible for compressing the refrigerant and circulating it through a closed circuit.
• Evaporator (heat exchanger). In this radiator, freon is converted from liquid to gas.
• Fan. Forces air flow to the evaporator.
• Thermostatic valve. Helps reduce refrigerant pressure before the evaporator. As a rule, it is a thin, curved spiral copper tube.
• Set of filters. They retain dust and larger fractions of debris that are inevitably contained in room air.
• Air distribution system.
• Blinds that control the direction of air flow.
• Temperature sensors.
• LED indicators.
• Information board.

Indoor unit design

Pay attention! Since the internal unit of a split system is often located at an unattainable height, the device always includes a remote control.

External unit is simpler, and instead of an evaporator, the device contains a condenser - a unit responsible for the phase transition of freon from gaseous state into liquid.

The introduction of new technological solutions in household equipment often runs counter to practical expediency. The example of climate control technology is most illustrative in this sense. So, recently the market has been actively filling up with products intended for indoor use. The features of such systems include the complete elimination of dirty installation operations, which attracts a considerable audience of consumers. But despite all the ease of installation and further maintenance, such models are not able to approach the performance characteristics provided by the external air conditioner unit as part of a split system. Another thing is that owners of outdoor installations also have to deal with troublesome tasks, but of a different kind.

What is an external unit?

The outer segment, which is part of the split system complex, includes a condenser, valve decoupling, pipes, filter driers and a fan. Depending on the modification and structural design The internal “filling” may change, but a traditional air conditioner kit with a remote unit has exactly this set of elements. By the way, the most noticeable differences are observed in the so-called winter systems, which provide for the presence of special controllers for controlling the fan. Modern air conditioners also use multifunctional power switching relays. Such devices are designed for non-standard operation of the compressor under conditions of high or low temperatures. Unlike the internal segment, outdoor unit does not have electronic modules - its operation is completely subordinated to the mechanical function.

Block Dimensions

The outdoor unit is available in the market in different configurations and shapes. And although manufacturers strive to unify model lines in order to simplify segmentation, the choice of standard sizes is still quite wide. If we talk about average parameters, it is 770 mm wide, 450 mm high and 245 mm thick. In this case, the radius of the fan varies on average from 200 to 250 mm. Of course, there are also units whose dimensions deviate from these indicators. Thus, the Mitsubishi line features an almost square-shaped external air conditioner unit, which is 880 mm wide and 840 mm high. As for the parameters of the internal segment, they are not so impressive. Usually these are long narrow modules of medium size - 700 x 200 x 200 mm.

Selecting a location for installing the unit

Usually, when choosing the optimal point for installing air conditioners outside, users are faced with the problem of combining ease of use and protection of the module. For example, the location of the block at height is the best option from the point of view of its safety, but in this case, access to the air conditioner for maintenance purposes becomes more difficult. A good solution would be to place the module on the wall near a window opening or loggia. In this case, other nuances must be taken into account, including the absence of direct rays of the sun and permission for installation from neighbors, since a noisy unit can cause inconvenience to people living on the same level of the building.

In addition, it produces condensation, which will flow down in drops. Accordingly, you will have to negotiate with your neighbors on lower floors. If the installation location of the unit is successfully agreed upon with other residents, you can begin direct installation operations. By the way, another condition for installing an outdoor unit is the possibility of laying communications in the wall.

Installation of the external air conditioner unit

When installing air conditioners, special installation kits are used, which include pipes with flex, brackets with sets of fixing hardware, drainage communications, etc. Physical installation segment is carried out using load-bearing components that are embedded in the walls using anchor elements. At the same stage, brackets are used, the power potential of which is oriented towards the mass of a particular module. Also, the installation of an external air conditioner unit provides for its communication connection with the internal segment. To do this, a hole of the required diameter is made in the wall, which will allow organizing, in addition to the main wiring, also a gasket vacuum pump and manifold. At the final stage, communications are directly connected between the two blocks.

Features of installing the indoor unit

When installing the evaporative unit, that is, the internal module of the air conditioning system, it is especially important to maintain the correct position of the unit. Typically this block is mounted directly under the ceiling surface with a slight indentation. Mechanical fixation is also carried out using suitable brackets. True, in this case the mass of the equipment is not so great, which simplifies the work process. After marking, the master installs anchor elements and, if necessary, attaches supporting profiles. Next, the indoor unit of the air conditioner is installed with strict adherence to the horizontal position. Also, according to the instructions, some models of such segments should have a slight slope towards the passage of drainage.

Maintenance and care

Under standard operating conditions, the air conditioner must be serviced every six months. Most of the work is done with the external unit, which is most susceptible to contamination. Specialists usually check the condition of the filters, the refrigerant level, the operating pressure of the module route, etc. The most difficult operation is replacing the working fluid. The refrigerant is a chemically unsafe substance, so it is better to trust its refilling experienced craftsmen. But caring for the remaining components is quite accessible to ordinary users. For example, the answer to the question of how to clean the external unit of an air conditioner is quite simple. First of all, it should be disassembled, after which, using a rag or vacuum cleaner, remove internal surfaces module from dust and dirt deposits. In the process of such maintenance, external filters and heat exchange radiators are cleaned, which extends the service life of the air conditioner.

External unit in multi-systems

The concept of the technical implementation of a split system provides for the possibility of using several indoor modules in one complex, which are serviced by one outdoor unit. Unlike standard configurations, the external module of such a system has engineering differences. For integration into a multi-system, it is equipped with an additional thermostat, which allows you to more effectively control the fan and compressor settings. In turn, the indoor unit of the air conditioner acts as a source of information signals that determine the control of the outdoor module. That is, the user using remote control refers to the panel of the indoor unit, which, in turn, regulates the bypass communications system on the freon line via a digital channel.

Question of price

In modern modifications, split-system type air conditioners are not cheap, which is largely due to the complexity of the design. Even in the entry-level segment, the cost of an air conditioner with a remote unit is rarely less than 20 thousand rubles. Of course, you can also find options for 15 thousand rubles. from little-known brands, but their quality raises doubts both among specialists and among users themselves, who often complain about problems.

Decent quality models are offered by Fujitsu, Daikin, Mitsubishi, etc. The average cost of an air conditioner from the range of these companies varies in the range of 30-40 thousand rubles. At the same time, the most technologically advanced and productive kits can be valued at 70-80 thousand rubles.

Conclusion

The use of air conditioners with a design that requires the installation of a remote unit causes many problems during installation and further maintenance. And this does not take into account the difficulties in transporting equipment. These factors allow us to speak of such units as obsolete. Especially against the backdrop of the proliferation of mobile devices of modest size. However, the external air conditioner unit remains relevant in the market. This is explained by its high performance, functionality and safety during operation, since the main operating units are located outside the living space. And if for household use you can find a low-power replacement for a split system in the form of a monoblock, then in the context of maintenance office premises, public buildings and institutions, multifunctional complexes still have no equal.

Korean company Samsung produces air conditioners various types. A significant part of the production is occupied by split systems; also on the market under this brand there are monoblock window models and multi-split systems.

All modern systems conditioners of this brand are different:

• multifunctionality;
• energy efficiency;
• low noise level;
• stylish design;
• effective system air filtration.

The multi-stage cleaning system not only cleans the air flow of contaminants, but also disinfects it, killing bacteria and microorganisms.

Compact windows

The smallest ducts have a block height of 199 mm. These are so-called low-profile duct-type blocks, which are produced for operation in powerful multi-zone systems.

Ordinary duct air conditioner, designed to work in a room of 40 square meters. m, like the ADH1800E model, it has the corresponding power (5 kW) dimensions 1340x260x600 mm.

MEL Group of Companies - wholesale supplier of air conditioning systemsMitsubishiHeavyIndustries.

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Before considering such a seemingly simple topic as the maximum length of air conditioner pipelines (open the manufacturer’s catalog and see what the maximum length is), I want to ask one question: what is an ENGINEER in our specialty? The one that looks at the catalog and spits out what it says? But this can be done by an ordinary manager; knowledge of hydraulics and thermodynamics is not required. Probably, an engineer is a specialist who sees a little deeper than the catalog numbers. A specialist who can explain where these numbers come from.

I remember there was an argument with a respected person who, in defense of the catalogs, said the following phrase: “If I have instructions on how to build a BLUE house, then I cannot build a RED house using it, because this would be a violation of the instructions..."

So, an ENGINEER is probably a person who can build a “house” of any color: understanding what a foundation is, load-bearing walls, floors and roofing of the building. It doesn’t matter what color the house will be.

Split air conditioning systems have one important characteristic– maximum distance from the outdoor unit to the indoor unit. Moreover, in real objects this parameter often becomes decisive when choosing an air conditioner. The greater the cold performance of the air conditioner, the longer the length of the air conditioner route the manufacturer allows (Table 1 using the example of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries).

Table 1.

Cold, kW
Pipes, mm

Cold, kW
Pipes, mm

For models with 2 kW of cold, the maximum length of the air conditioner circuit is, as a rule, 15 meters, and for semi-industrial models of 7 kW and above - up to 50 meters. For some models, the length of pipelines can reach 100 meters.

But one important detail is often forgotten - the performance of the air conditioner in catalogs is indicated for a standard pipeline length of 7.5 meters, and with a maximum length the performance of the air conditioner will be less. How much less - let's look at these tables:

Table 2.

Equivalent length is the length of a straight pipeline, the pressure loss in which is the same as the real one (with local resistances).

In principle, power losses are not large - for the 50th model with a length of 30 meters (equivalent length), losses during cold operation are only 3.4% of power. On the other hand, for the 140th model, the losses for 50 meters of length are already 17%.

Now we need to pay attention to the theory.

In Fig. Figure 1 shows a classic freon cycle in an air conditioner circuit. Moreover, please note that this is a cycle for ANY systems using R410A freon; the cycle does not depend on the performance of the air conditioner or brand. Let's start from point D, with the parameters at which (temperature 75C, pressure 27.2 bar) freon enters the condenser of the outdoor unit. Freon at the moment is a superheated gas, which first cools to a saturation temperature (about 45C), then begins to condense and at point A, completely transforms from gas into liquid. Then the liquid is supercooled to point A’ (temperature 40C). It is believed that the optimal value of hypothermia is 5C. After the heat exchanger of the outdoor unit, the refrigerant enters the throttling device (TRV or capillary) and its parameters change to point B (temperature 5C, pressure 9.3 bar). Moreover, it is important that after throttling, it is a mixture of liquid and gas that enters the liquid pipeline. The greater the value of freon subcooling in the condenser, the greater the proportion of liquid freon entering the indoor unit, the higher the efficiency of the air conditioner.

B-C – the process of freon boiling in the indoor unit with a constant temperature of about 5C, C-C’ – freon overheating to +10C.

C’ – L – the process of freon being sucked into the compressor and pressure loss at the same time. Similar process D’ – M.

L – M - the process of compressing freon gas in a compressor with increasing pressure and temperature.

Rice. 1. Freon cycle refrigeration machine on the I-lgP diagram

Parameters of R410A freon at key points of the refrigeration cycle

Points	Temperature, °C	Pressure, Bar	Density, kg/m 3

Pressure loss in the system depends on the freon speed V and the hydraulic characteristics of the network:

Liquid pipeline – 0.3-1.2 m/s

Gas pipeline – 6-12 m/s

What will happen to the air conditioner when the hydraulic characteristics of the network increase (due to increased length or large quantity local resistance)? Increased pressure losses in the gas pipeline will lead to a drop in pressure at the compressor inlet. The compressor will capture refrigerant of lower pressure and therefore lower density. Refrigerant consumption will drop. At the outlet, the compressor will produce less pressure and the condensation temperature will drop. A lower condensation temperature will lead to a lower evaporation temperature and freezing gas pipeline.

If increased pressure losses occur in the liquid pipeline, then the process is even more interesting: Since we found out that freon flows in the liquid pipeline in a saturated state, or rather even a mixture of liquid and gas bubbles, then any pressure losses will lead to a slight boiling of the refrigerant and increasing the share of gas. An increase in the proportion of gas will lead to a sharp increase in the volume of the vapor-gas mixture and an increase in the speed of movement through the liquid pipeline. Increased movement speed will again cause increased pressure losses and the process will be “avalanche-like”. Here is a conditional graph of specific pressure losses depending on the speed of movement of freon in the pipeline:

Rice. 2. Freon pressure loss along the length of pipelines.

It can also be viewed as a graph of pressure loss along the length. If, for example, the pressure loss with a pipeline length of 15 meters is 400 Pa, then when the pipeline length is doubled - up to 30 meters, the losses increase not twice to 800 Pa, but 7 times to 2800 Pa. Therefore, simply increasing the length of the pipelines by two times relative to its standard lengths is fatal for the air conditioner.

How to correctly increase the length of routes beyond the standard permissible values?

To do this, two problems need to be solved:

Problem 1 – the problem of increased pressure losses along the length in pipelines.

As we found out, increased pressure losses lead to a sharp decrease in the cold power of the air conditioner, a decrease in freon consumption and overheating of the compressor. Which in turn will lead to jamming or burning of the motor windings. To prevent this from happening, we must reduce the specific pressure loss by reducing the speed of movement in the pipelines. Those. just increase the diameters of the pipelines. Reducing the speed of movement of freon by half reduces pressure loss by 4 times (formula 1) and, accordingly, allows the length of pipelines to be increased by the same amount.

To check this on real equipment, let's look again at Table 2: cold power losses for the 71st and 140th models at a length of 50 meters.

71st model correction coefficient 0.94. Losses 6%

140-ya model correction coefficient 0.829. Losses 17.1%

This means that pressure loss decreased by 17.1/6 = 2.85 times

The 140th model is exactly twice as powerful as the 71st, and the pipelines are the same (3/8 and 5/8). Therefore, the speed of movement of freon is exactly two times less. The pressure loss, which follows a quadratic dependence on speed, should be about 36%. In fact, less, because the starting point is not from 0 meters, but from 7.5 meters.

That is, when the freon speed is halved, the pressure loss is also reduced by at least two times (in practice, more than two times).

Now let's look again at Table 1:

Cold, kW
Pipes, mm

The 6.35mm liquid line diameter works on both a 2.0kW system and a 7.1kW system. On the 7 kW model, the length of the pipes can reach 30 meters, which means that there are no critical pressure losses at such a length. The available compressor pressure, as we have already found out, does not depend on the power of the air conditioner. Therefore, the same liquid pipelines for models from 2 to 7 kW are explained by the absence of pipes of smaller diameter. For models from 2 to 5 kW, the liquid pipeline is taken “with a reserve”.

But the diameter of the gas pipeline is chosen closer to the real values, so its cross-section varies from 9.52 mm to 15.88 mm.

Taking into account all of the above, we can create the following table:

Table 3. Magnification permissible length pipelines when their diameter changes.

Cold, kW
Pipes, mm	6,35/12,7	6,35/12,7	6,35/12,7	9,52/15,88	9,52/15,88	9,52/15,88
Length, m

Cold, kW
Pipes, mm	9,52/15,88	9,52/15,88	9,52/19,05	9,52/19,05	12,7/19,05
Length, m

Power loss at the specified maximum length will be from 10% to 15%. As follows from Table 2, MHI power losses are allowed up to 20%.

Problem 2 – oil return to the compressor.

By increasing the diameter of the gas pipeline, we reduce the speed of movement of the refrigerant, which means that the effect of oil separation and stagnation in pipelines and “oil traps” may occur. To prevent this from happening, some MHI outdoor units are equipped with special devices - oil separators.

Rice. 3. Diagram of the freon circuit of outdoor units FDC200 (250) VS

Table 5. Power losses of outdoor units 200 and 250 index at different diameters gas pipeline.

But most outdoor vehicles do not have oil separators. On the other hand, the problem of oil separation was more typical for R22 freon. Firstly, because the viscosity of mineral oil used with R22 freon is greater than that of polyester oil for R410A freon. Secondly, the density of R410A is higher, the available pressure is higher, so the diameters of the pipelines are 1-2 sizes smaller.

In any case, an increase in the diameter of gas pipelines is allowed IN HORIZONTAL AREAS. Those. on vertical sections of the pipeline it is necessary to use a standard (catalog) diameter, and on horizontal sections you can switch to a diameter of a larger cross-section.

Example:

In a residential complex in Perm, on each floor of the building there are special rooms for outdoor air conditioning units. But the length of the pipelines that arises in this case reaches 40 meters. Maximum route length household split systems of any manufacturer maximum 25 meters. However, if the diameter of the gas pipeline is increased to 1/2, the length of the air conditioner pipeline can reach 40 meters. Household model SRK35ZJ-S installed. The area near the outdoor unit is made standard (1/4, 3/8), then a transition is made at approximately a distance of 1 meter gas pipe to a diameter of ½ on the solder, and then near the internal unit, switch back to 3/8. Liquid pipe unchanged.

More than 10 air conditioners have already been installed using this scheme. The very first one was more than 2 years ago. All air conditioners work fine.

Conclusions.

1. Increase maximum length Air conditioner routes are possible by increasing the diameter of the pipelines. Recommendations for the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries brand are shown in Table 3.
2. Increasing the diameter of the gas pipeline is possible only in horizontal sections.

In this case, it is necessary to carry out additional refrigerant charging for the increased length of the liquid pipeline according to Table 4.