A mini split system cools the air by transferring heat from inside your home to the outside.
Mini split air conditioning systems provide cooling in a surprisingly simple yet effective way. Unlike traditional window units or central air that relies on ductwork, mini splits use a process of heat exchange between an indoor unit (or multiple units) and an outdoor unit.
Here's a breakdown of the cooling process:
The Cooling Cycle
The fundamental principle behind a mini split's cooling ability is removing heat from the indoor air and transferring it outside. This is achieved through a continuous cycle involving a special substance called refrigerant.
- Warm Air Intake: The indoor unit, often called the air handler, actively draws in warm air from the room. This warm air passes over a coil inside the unit.
- Heat Absorption: Within this coil flows the refrigerant. The warm indoor air causes the liquid refrigerant to absorb heat and evaporate into a low-pressure gas. The reference states, "The refrigerant in the system absorbs the heat..."
- Heat Transport: The now hot, gaseous refrigerant is pumped through a line set (typically copper tubing) to the outdoor unit. As the reference notes, the refrigerant "transports it to the outdoor unit."
- Heat Release: At the outdoor unit, the gaseous refrigerant passes through another coil. Here, a fan blows outdoor air over the coil, allowing the refrigerant to release the absorbed heat into the surrounding atmosphere. As the refrigerant cools down and loses heat, it condenses back into a high-pressure liquid.
- Circulation of Cool, Dehumidified Air: The cooled, liquid refrigerant travels back to the indoor unit. As warm air passes over the indoor coil again, the cycle repeats. Importantly, as the warm, humid indoor air passes over the cold indoor coil, moisture condenses out of the air. This process dehumidifies the air. The indoor unit then "dehumidifies and circulates the now-cool air" back into the room.
Steps in the Process
Here's a simplified view of the key actions:
- Indoor Unit: Draws in warm air.
- Refrigerant: Absorbs heat from indoor air.
- Refrigerant: Moves heat to the outdoor unit.
- Outdoor Unit: Releases heat outside.
- Indoor Unit: Dehumidifies air.
- Indoor Unit: Blows cool air into the room.
This continuous cycle effectively lowers the indoor temperature by constantly moving heat energy from inside your conditioned space to the outside environment.
