Benefits of Inverter Air Conditioning
Inverter air conditioning is more expensive than non inverter air conditioning but with the current
spiralling energy costs, is it worth the extra money?
Let's see what the benefits are of inverter air conditioning compared with a non inverter air
conditioning:-
- At least 30% - 50% cheaper to run as it consumes less power
- Far quicker to achieve desired temperature
- The start up time is reduced by 30%
- Much quieter
- No temperature fluctuations, maximising comfort level
- No voltage peaks from compressor
- All inverter air conditioning are heat pumps which in itself is one of the most energy efficient
form of heating
Is it worth paying more for an inverter air conditioning?
So, in summary an inverter air conditioning can reduce your energy bill. It will be worth paying more
for an inverter air conditioning if you use your air conditioning for:-
- all year round
- used for heating
With energy costs now running at approximately R1.15 per kWh and still rising there is no doubt this
will save you money in the long run.
What is the difference between inverter and non inverter air conditioning units?
Non inverter or Fixed speed air conditioning deliver a fixed amount of power via a fixed speed. This
means the compressor has to stop and start to maintain the desired room temperature.
Inverter air conditioning system varies the speed of the compressors, delivering precise cooling or
heating power as required.
How does Inverter Air Conditioning work?
The amount of cooling or heating required by an air conditioning unit varies depending on the outdoor
temperature and the amount of heat in the room.
When the cooling or heating capacity needs to be increased, the compressor will operate at a high
speed and will increase the amount of refrigerant flow.
Conversely, during moderate outside temperatures for example, when the cooling and heating
capacity needs to be decreased, the compressor will operate at a low speed and will decrease the
amount of refrigerant flow. When the inverter air conditioning is switched on, the compressor
operates at a high speed in order to cool or heat the room quickly. As the room temperature
approaches the set temperature, the compressor slows down, maintaining a constant temperature and
saving energy. Any sudden fluctuation in the room temperature will be sensed and instantly adjusted
to bring the room temperature back to the set temperature. Inverter air conditioners use between 30-
50% less electricity to operate.
Inverter Air conditioning systems explained
The debate of whether to have inverter air conditioning or fixed speed air conditioning is one all new comers to
the market have to ask themselves. Inverters are generally 40% more expensive initially but the the benefits far
out way the cost when the equipment is used on a regular basis. With the recent change over from old air
conditioning refrigerant R22 to R410a inverter air conditioning
technology has been boosted further. R410a runs at a much higher
pressure and temperature than the older gas thus being better for heat
pump applications. Most modern day systems are actually better at
heating in Kw / Btu than its cooling output. i.e if you were to
purchase a 3.5 Kw wall mounted inverter air conditioning heat pump
system then you would see that its heating output would be
somewhere in the region of 4 Kw / 13000 Btu. The stated rating on
the box is always in cooling output. Inverter air conditioners do not
have the high inductive power rush associated with fixed speed non
inverter air conditioning, which are renowned for draining huge amounts of energy when they start up,
sometimes lights are known to dim. This is said to save on a well used system up to 60% on an annual electricity
bill. Fixed speed is being phased out by many manufactures within the next few years.
Air conditioner inverter
An inverter in an air conditioner is used to control the speed of the compressor motor to allow
continuously regulated temperature. By contrast, traditional air conditioners regulate temperature by
using a compressor that is periodically either working at maximum capacity or switched off entirely.
Inverter-equipped air conditioners have a variable-frequency drive that incorporates an adjustable
electrical inverter to control the speed of the motor and thus the compressor and cooling output.
A comparison of temperature regulation between a traditional air conditioner and an inverter air
conditioner.
The variable-frequency drive uses filters suppress most of the a rectifier to convert the incoming
alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) and then uses pulse-width modulation in an electrical
inverter to produce AC of a desired frequency. The variable frequency AC drives a brushless motor or
an induction motor. As the speed of an induction motor is proportional to the frequency of the AC, the
compressors runs at different speeds. A microcontroller can then sample the current ambient air
temperature and adjust the speed of the compressor appropriately. The additional electronics add to
cost of equipment and operation. Conversion from AC to DC, and then back to AC, can cost as much
4 - 6% in energy losses for each conversion step.
Eliminating stop-start cycles increases efficiency, extends the life of components, and helps eliminate
sharp fluctuations in the load the air conditioner places on the power supply. Ultimately this makes
inverter air conditioners less prone to breakdowns, cheaper to run, and the outdoor compressor is
generally quieter than a standard air conditioning unit's compressor.
While at the beginning of the 1990s inverter air conditioners had some drawbacks, these have been
mostly overcome the conversion losses are lower and electromagnetic interference generated in
inverters. Running at full load, compressors deliver their best efficiency and outperform inverters.
Inverter-based air conditioners have their strengths in environments where a partial load is common,
as they are significantly more efficient than conventional air conditioners in those situations. For
conventional households where each indoor unit is connected to a single dedicated outdoor unit,
inverters are the preferred option, as partial loading is the common mode there. The higher initial
expense is balanced by lower energy bills. In a typical setting the pay-back time is about two years
(depending upon the usage). For more modern installations where an outdoor unit is connected to
multiple indoor units there are better options also available.