Air conditioning means the cooling of indoor air for thermal comfort. It refers in a broader sense; any form of cooling, heating, ventilation, or disinfection that modifies the condition of air. Any appliance, system, or machine that is designed to stabilize the air temperature and humidity within a area (used for cooling as well as heating depending on the air properties at a given time), is referred to as an air strengthener. Typically this uses a refrigeration cycle but sometimes evaporation, which is commonly for comfort cooling in buildings and motor vehicles.
Modern air conditioning emerged from advances in chemistry during the 19th century, and it was recorded that the first large-scale electrical air conditioning was invented and used in 1902 by Willis Haviland Carrier in Buffalo, The big apple. The first air conditioners and refrigerators employed toxic or flammable gases like ammonia, methyl chloride, and propane which could result in fatal accidents when they leaked.
Air conditioning is broadly divides to comfort and process applications. In Comfort Applications it aims to provide a building indoor environment that remains relatively constant in a spread preferred by humans despite changes in external weather conditions or in internal heat loads, whereas in Process Applications it aims at providing a suitable environment for an operation being carried out, regardless of internal heat and humidity loads and external weather conditions. Additionally to buildings, air conditioning can be used by many types of transportation – motor-cars and other land vehicles, trains, ships, aircraft, and spacecraft. Although often within the comfort range, it is the needs of carpet that determine conditions, not human desired playing style. In both comfort and process applications, the aim may be to not only control temperature, however humidity, air quality and air movement from space to space.
Though built for man’s comfort, air conditioning can constitute air pollution. Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or damages the surrounding into the oxygen. Since the atmosphere is a complex dynamic natural gaseous system that is essential to support life on planet Earth, its pollution will drastically affect human health as well when compared to the Earth’s ecosystems.
Since chronic, low-level exposure to various chemicals, e.g., lead exposure – even at relatively ‘abnormal’ amounts – may create a number of adverse outcomes, continuous exposure to air conditioning appliances can have severe effects, such as anaemia, malaise, and damage to the nervous system. Students are particularly vulnerable into the neurotoxic effects of lead. Relatively lower levels of exposure can help to eliminate their IQ scores, cause learning disabilities, poor school performance, and violent behaviour, all of which might contribute to reduced lifetime earnings.
Apart from scenario of stratospheric ozone depletion, indoor pollution and urban quality of air are listed becoming world’s worst pollution problems in the 2008 Blacksmith Institute World’s Worst Polluted Places report. Though atmospheric pollution could be caused by other combustible materials such as open burning of refuse, old tyres, old vehicles, exhaust pipes of engines and other locomotives which pollute the environment, yet pollution from air conditioners are very undesirable. Prevention of atmospheric pollution is very important because a lot of diseases like respiratory tract infections can occur from them and also the major constituent all those gases which is carbon-monoxide can stay away from the free flow of blood in the body by impairing the oxygen carrying capacity of the hemoglobin. A poorly maintained air-conditioning system can promote the growth and spread of microorganisms, the infectious agent responsible for Legionnaires’ disease, but as long as the air conditioner is kept clean these health hazards could be avoided.
Conversely, air conditioning, including filtration, humidification, cooling, disinfection, etc., can be used to provide a clean, safe, hypoallergenic atmosphere in hospital operating rooms and other environments where a suitable atmosphere is vital to patient safety and well-being. Air conditioning can have a positive effect on people with allergies and asthma. In serious heat waves, air conditioning helps save the lives in the elderly. Some local authorities have even set up public cooling centers with regard to without home air cooling.
Abacus Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electrical
4001 Kendrick Plaza Dr, Houston, TX 77032
(713) 812-7070