Inverter and Normal Fixed speed air conditioner

What is the difference between an Inverter and Normal Fixed speed air conditioner?

We've all seen them - the supermarket split type air conditioners - at what seems like an incredible price. But the old adage still remains true - "You get what you pay for". A good analogy for this is the cheap computer printer. It seems like such great value until you come to replace the ink cartridge - which often costs more than the printer itself! Don't get me wrong - we still happily sell the cheaper units - but it's only responsible of us to inform you of the advantages and disadvantages of using price as your number one criteria for choosing a unit. We prefer to substitute the word "price" with "value for money" - and this is when the "Inverter" type air conditioner suddenly starts looking attractive. To put it simply - Inverters cost more money to buy, but are more efficient to run, which saves you money on your energy costs, which makes them better "value for money" over all. Another advantage to Inverters is they are quieter than conventional "Fixed Speed" aircon units due to the way they achieve their efficiency. So whats the Difference? What is a Fixed Speed Unit? This unit only has a single speed compressor motor that is either on or off. It works similar to a fan heater that switches off when the desired temperature is reached and on again when the temperature drops to a set level. What does Inverter Mean? Inverter technology uses a variable speed compressor motor similar to a car. It simply slows down and speeds up as needed to hold a selected comfort setting. Inverter technology provides a more precise room temperature without the temperature fluctuations of fixed speed systems. Inverter vs Standard: Inverter units are Approximately 30% more efficient than fixed speed units. Inverter units reach the set room temperature quicker. The speed control of the outdoor unit also means quieter operation, this is important especially at night in residential areas. Inverter Systems Increased output to achieve set temperature faster. Then varies the output to maintain a constant room temperature. Fixed Speed Type Slowly gets to temperature as output rating is fixed. Then turns on and off to maintain room temperature. But? There's a but? To get these efficiency gains it is important to use the air conditioner as it is intended: the unit has to be sized right for the room you are heating/cooling it is best to run the unit continuously and set for the desired room temperature (i.e. such as 21 Celcius) and not at a full setting for heating or cooling (as most people do) and of course - a well insulated, low-thermal mass villa helps too...

Credit http://www.penguinaircon.com/index.php/Algarve-Air-Conditioning/What-is-the-difference-between-an-Inverter-and-Normal-Fixed-speed-air-conditioner.html

inverter mean

INVERTER

Dictionary entry overview: What does inverter mean?

• INVERTER (noun)
The noun INVERTER has 1 sense:

1. an electrical converter that converts direct current into alternating current

Familiarity information: INVERTER used as a noun is very rare.

Dictionary entry details

• INVERTER (noun)

Meaning:

An electrical converter that converts direct current into alternating current

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("inverter" is a kind of...):

electrical converter (converter that converts alternating current into direct current or vice versa)

Components Static inverter plant 6

AC switchgear

The three-phase alternating current switchgear of a static inverter station is similar to that of an AC substation. It will contain circuit breakers for overcurrent protection of the converter transformers, isolating switches, grounding switches, and instrument transformers for control, measurement and protection. The station will also have lightning arresters for protection of the AC equipment from lightning surges on the AC system.

Components Static inverter plant 5

Filter for harmonics

Filter for harmonics are necessary for the elimination of the harmonic waves and for the production of the necessary reactive power. At plants with six pulse inverters complex harmonic filters are necessary, because there are odd-number harmonics from the 5th order upwards. At 12 pulse static inverter plants, only harmonic waves of the order 12*n + 1 and 12*n - 1 (n = natural number) result. Filters are tuned to the expected harmonic frequencies and consist of series combinations of capacitors and inductors.

Beside the harmonic filters, equipment is also provided to eliminate spurious signals in the frequency range of power-line carrier equipment, in the range of 30 kHz to 500 kHz. These filters are usually near the alternating current terminal of the static inverter transformer. They consist of a series coil which passes the load current, with a parallel capacitor to form a resonant circuit.

Components Static inverter plant 4

Reactive Power

A static inverter will require between 40 and 60% of its megawatt rating as reactive power. This can be provided by banks of switched capacitors or by synchronous condensers. The demand for reactive power can be reduced if the inverter transformers have on-load tapchangers, with a sufficient range of taps for ac voltage control. Some of the reactive power requirement can be supplied in the harmonic filter components.

Components Static inverter plant 3

Inverter transformer

The inverter transformers step up the voltage of the AC supply network. By using a star-delta (US: wye-delta) connection, the inverter can operate with 12 pulses in each cycle of the AC supply, which eliminates numerous harmonic current components. The insulation of the transformer windings must be specially designed to withstand a large DC potential to earth. Inverter transformers can be built as large as 300 MVA as a single unit. It is impractical to transport larger transformers so when larger ratings are required, several individual transformers are connected together. Either two three-phase units or three single-phase units can be used. With the latter variant only one type of transformer is used, making the supply of a spare transformer more economical.

Inverter transformers operate with high flux densities, and so produce more acoustic noise than normal three-phase power transformers. This effect should be considered in the siting of an HVDC static inverter plant. Noise-reducing enclosures may be applied.

Components Static inverter plant 2

Inverter

Main article: Inverter (electrical)

The inverter is usually installed in a building called the valve hall. Since the mid 1970s solid-state devices such as thyristors are used. Many thyristors are assembled into a module, the thyristor tower. The thyristor towers can stand on insulators on the floor or hang from insulators from the ceiling. Thyristor inverters require voltage from the AC network for commutation, but insulated gate bipolar transistors used in some HVDC designs can provide power to a de-energized AC system.