The History of air condtioning

The following article is recommended by Nancy Deleon and students, source:
http://www.air-n-water.com/air-conditioner-history.htm

Air conditioning (A/C) removes heat from an indoor environment for overall comfort. Air conditioning may also consist of
other aspects of indoor thermal regulation, such as cooling, heating, ventilation (PDF) and disinfection. An air
conditioning unit (PDF), an appliance, machine or system, stabilizes the humidity and air temperature within a confided
area. These thermal regulation systems use a refrigeration or evaporative cycle to achieve the desired results.

The oldest traces to the concept of air conditioning emerged out of 2nd century China of the Hans Dynasty. Ding Huang
invented a rotary fan model with seven wheels that was manually powered. Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty
ordered the construction of the Cool Hall, a water-powered fan wheels using water fountain jet streams. Despite the
technological advancement, the ancient Romans applied earlier concepts using aqueduct water to circulate through
houses in attempt to cool them. Ancient Persia developed techniques that used cisterns and wind towers as a cooling
operation for buildings. Modern air conditioning advancements emerged out of the 19th century by pioneering chemists,
such as Benjamin Franklin and John Hadley. However, Dr. John Gorrie, a native of Apalachicola, Florida, invented the
first recognizable cooling appliance in the 1830s. Gorrie's design consisted of a machine motor that blew air across
blocks of ice to cool hospital rooms. Likewise, President James Garfield ordered a group of naval engineers to construct
a cooling machine that would blow air through ice cold pieces of cloth. Garfield's project was successful, despite a minor
improvement and wasteful disposal of ice.

Willis Haviland Carrier developed the first electrical air conditioning unit in 1902. Carrier's invention aimed to control
both air temperature and humidity by sending air through cold coils. The air blowers directed streams over the cold coils
to bring down the overall atmospheric temperature, thereby leading to moisture control. Carrier's concepts were applied
to the workplace, which led to the formation of "The Carrier Air Conditioning Company of America." Stuart W. Cramer
explored various methods that introduced air to textile mills by combining moisture and ventilation for conditioning the air
and humidity in factories. His evaporative techniques now engulf the concept of evaporative cooling.

The first air conditioning and refrigeration models used toxic or flammable gases to improve the overall atmospheric
thermal temperature. Some of these toxic chemicals included ammonia, methly chlorida and propane, which would ignite
causing fatal accidents if leakages existed. In 1928, Thomas Midgely Jr. invented the first chlorofluorocarbon gas also
known as Freon to the modern industry. Hydrogenated CFC refrigerant, such as R-11, R-12, R-22 and R-134A, are
used to expand home and building air conditioning. R-12 was employed in U.S. automobiles until 1994 before
transitioning to R-134A. Concerns over the environmental impact made by Freon emissions have become the forefront
since the growing increase of global warming.

Air conditioning systems may exhibit an unnoticeable health risk. Microorganisms, such as Legionella pneumophila, a
vicious bacterium that leads to the Legionnaires' disease, can spread throughout the confined areas. It is vitally
important for owners to call a professional for regular servicing in order to keep the system clean of these dangerous
microorganisms. However, air conditioning may also improve the overall filtration, cooling, disinfection and humidification
of confined areas that need a sanitary and hypoallergenic atmosphere. Air conditioning may also help extend lives of
the elderly during serious heat waves.

Air conditioners help promote a comfortable cabin temperature free of excessive heat and humidity while traveling. Air
conditioning may not increase the overall fuel efficiency of a vehicle because of the wind resistance, engine power and
aerodynamics causing a direct impact on gas mileage. The first automobile air conditioning was released in 1933 from a
company located in New York City, which offered air conditioning installation for cars. Most of the clients for these
installations were limousine and high-end cars for the upper class. In 1939, Packard Motor Car Company built air
conditioners directly into its cars. These optional units were installed at a modest equivalent of $4,050 United States
dollars. The Nash Ambassador was the first American automobile to have a fully-integrated heating, ventilating, and
air-conditioning system. About twenty percent of all American cars were equipped with air conditioning in 1960, and grew
to 54 percent by 1964.
Portable air conditioners are equipped with wheels for easy transportation inside and out of a home or building. Portable
air conditioners consists of an evaporative or refrigerative, split or hosed system. These systems use a compressor to
exchange air for heat, dehumidifying the air while cooling it. It rounds up condensation from cooled air, and produces
hot air that will need to be vented outside of the cooled area. A portable split system uses flexible pipes, while hosed
systems vents through a series of air ducts. Portable evaporative air coolers are not equipped with a compressor or
condenser, but instead evaporates water on the cooling fins, which releases the vapor into the various cool areas.

Heat pumps (PDF) relocate heat from one location (heatsink) to another at a lower temperature. A heat pump provides
either heating or cooling, while using the same refrigeration cycle. Therefore, a heat pump switches between a
condenser or evaporator through a reversing valve. Cooler climates might require homes and buildings to only have
strictly heat pumps (PDF) without the cooling aspect. Food refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, and split heat pumps
provide ample space heating. Heat pumps are usually referred to as vapor-compression refrigeration devices, which
include reversing valves and heat exchangers in order to reverse the overall heat flow. Heat pumps draw heat from the
ground to accomplish this function.

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